Katy ISD to Participate in National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day

Katy Texas News
Posted April 11, 2011

The Katy ISD Police Department will join forces with members from the Houston Drug Enforcement Administration during National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day to collect potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs. This initiative will take place on Saturday, April 30, 2011. Katy ISD will have two locations this year. The south location will be Roosevelt Alexander Elementary located at 6161 S. Fry Rd., and the North location will be Sundown Elementary located at 20100 Saums Rd. Both locations will be manned by Katy ISD Police Officers.

“We encourage all families to take a moment to look in their medicine cabinets and drop-off any unused prescription drugs,” says Katy ISD Police Sergeant Tom Donalson. “This is an easy and anonymous service that could potentially save a life.”

Patrons may drop off their expired or unwanted prescription drugs for on-site destruction between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. in the school’s cafeteria.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice DEA, prescription drug abuse in the U.S. is increasing at alarming rates – as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, many Americans do not know how to properly dispose of their unused medicine, often flushing them down the toilet or throwing them away – both potential safety and health hazards.

This event is the second of its kind. The first event was conducted in October of 2010, and Katy ISD Police manned one site. That site netted over 200 lbs of expired or unwanted dangerous drugs. For a complete listing of collection sites across the U.S., visit www.dea.gov.

Please mention you found this on www.KatyMagazine.com.

Share this: