Nationwide Prescription Drug Take-Back Day and VIN Etching/Watch Your Car Program on April 27th - News Release

NEWS RELEASE

City of Takoma Park Police Department

* 7500 Maple Avenue * Takoma Park, Md 20912



For more information contact:

Public Information Officer (PIO)

Catherine Plevy, 301/891.7142 or 240/338.2901



April 12, 2013 (3:07 p.m.)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE



The Takoma Park Police Department will once again participate in the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Nationwide Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on Saturday, April 27, 2013, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. This campaign gives the public an opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs. Bring your prescriptions to the Takoma Park Police Department, 7500 Maple Avenue, Takoma Park, Maryland 20912. Collection boxes will be set up in the first floor police lobby of the City building. Prescription, over-the-counter and pet medications will be accepted.

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 – more Americans currently abuse prescription drugs than the number of those using cocaine, hallucinogens and heroin combined. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.

The overwhelming public response to DEA’s nationwide Take-Back events not only rid homes of potentially harmful prescription drugs, but is an unprecedented opportunity to educate everyone about the growing prescription drug abuse problem. "Studies have shown that, for many, prescription drugs are the very first drugs they abuse – and all too often they aren’t the last. That is why we are committed to helping Americans keep their homes safe by ridding their medicine cabinets of expired, unused and unwanted drugs," says DEA Administrator Michele Leonhart.

"I encourage every American to take advantage of this valuable opportunity to safely dispose of unused, un-needed, or expired prescription drugs," said Gil Kerlikowkse, Director of National Drug Control Policy. "Preventing these readily available and potentially deadly drugs from being diverted and misused is something each and every one of us can do to help reduce the epidemic of prescription drug abuse that is harming so many Americans."

The public can find a nearby collection site by visiting www.dea.gov, clicking on the "Got Drugs?" icon, and following the links to a database, where they enter their zip code.

Congress passed the Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal Act of 2010, which amends the Controlled Substances Act to allow an "ultimate user" 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. DEA has begun drafting regulations to implement the Act.

Other participants in this initiative include the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, the American Association of Poison Control Centers; the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America; D.A.R.E. America; the Federation of State Medical Boards; the U. S. Health Resources and Services Administration; the International Association of Chiefs of Police; the National Association of Attorneys General; the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives; the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy; the National District Attorneys Association; the National Sheriffs Association; and the Partnership@drugfree.org.

The Takoma Park Police Department, in partnership with the Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund (MAIF), will also be hosting a V.I.N. Etching event on Saturday, April 27, 2013, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the police station parking lot (7500 Maple Avenue, Takoma Park, Maryland 20912).

V.I.N. (Vehicle Identification Number) etching is a security technique in which your vehicle’s V.I.N. is permanently etched into all the glass panes of your vehicle. It is a proven vehicle-theft deterrent, as criminals tend to avoid vehicles that have been etched because it is harder for "chop shops" to make profit off of V.I.N.-etched vehicles.

In addition, during the event, you will be able to enroll in the "Watch Your Car" program and immediately receive the program decals that need to be affixed to your vehicle. It is a way for police officers to ensure your vehicle is not being driven by an unauthorized driver. A sticker is displayed in your vehicle window, so both officers and criminals know you are participating in the program.

Both services are FREE!

Please contact Catherine Plevy at 301.891.7142 or cathyp@takomagov.org with any questions.

More information on the program can be viewed online at www.maif.net.