CONTACT INFORMATION:
Kate Armitage, Director
Arts, Recreation, Parks & Communications
City of Millington
KArmitage@CityofMillington.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MILLINGTON POLICE AND THE DEA HELP PUBLIC WITH UNWANTED PRESCRIPTION DRUGS
MILLINGTON, TENNESSEE (February 25, 2014) - On April 26 from 10:00 AM. to 2:00 PM the Millington Police Department (MPD) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will give the public its eighth opportunity in three years to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs. The public is encouraged to bring unwanted prescription drugs to to Wal-Mart located at 8445 Hwy 51 N and Boatwright Pharmacy located at 7899 C Street for disposal. This service is free and anonymous, no questions asked. Please note, the DEA cannot accept liquids or needles or sharps, only pills or patches.
Last October, Americans turned in 324 tons (over 647,000 pounds) of prescription drugs at over 4,114 sites operated by the DEA and its thousands of state and local law enforcement partners. When those results are combined with what was collected in its seven previous "Take Back" events, DEA and its partners have taken in over 3.4 million pounds—more than 1,700 tons—of pills.
This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, 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, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines—flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash—both pose potential safety and health hazards.
DEA is in the process of approving new regulations that implement the Safe and Responsible Drug Disposal Act of 2010, which amends the Controlled Substances Act to allow an “ultimate user” (that is, a patient or their family member or pet owner) of controlled substance medications to dispose of them by delivering them to entities authorized by the Attorney General to accept them. The Act also allows the Attorney General to authorize long term care facilities to dispose of their residents’ controlled substances in certain instances. For more information, contact Millington Police Department at 901.872.3333.
ABOUT MILLINGTON, TENNESSEE
Located just minutes from Memphis, Millington enjoys an exceptional quality of life for an estimated 10,000 citizens. Quality education, recreation and economic growth make Millington a great place to live, work and play. Millington education offers a variety of public and private, faith based schools and various colleges, universities and technical institutions to serve the area. In 2004 The University of Memphis opened its Millington Campus and offers undergraduate and graduate courses in numerous fields of study. Millington is home to Naval Support Activity Mid-South, Ingram Micro, Memphis International Raceway, USA Stadium, Mirimichi and other golf courses providing opportunities for economic growth and world-class recreation. Millington’s West Tennessee Regional Business Center, a publicly owned business and industry center, features 1900 acres of prime industrial space with easy access to the Millington Regional Jetport and the Canadian National Railroad. True intermodal transportation and shipping, makes Millington the perfect place for business. Widely known as “Flag City, USA”, Millington truly offers the best of the Mid-South.
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