Gateway to Heroin is Found in Average Medicine Cabinet

By PATCH CHICAGO (Patch Staff)

by Erin Gallagher

Prescription drugs are directly linked to most, if not all, other drug addictions, officials say. Saturday’s National Take Back Day for prescription drugs aims to prevent abuse.

“Prescription pain killers are the gateway to full blown heroin addiction,” said Chuck Pelkie, spokesperson for Will County States Attorney Jim Glasgow. “Young people start with parents’ or grandparents’ pain killers.”

Heroin is an epidemic in Will County and surrounding areas, as well as other places throughout the country. Glasgow ”has been on the cutting edge” of fighting heroin addiction, both in aggressively prosecuting offenders, and prevention campaigns, Pelkie said.

“The more that people can do to keep the prescriptions out of the hands of their children. . .that kind of prevention is really the kind of prevention that helps people avoid addiction, and really saves lives in the long run,” Pelkie said.

Prescription drug abuse is classified an epidemic, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is the nation’s fastest growing drug problem.

In 2009, nearly one-third of people aged 12 and over began using prescription drugs non-medically, according to the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy.

“According to the 2009 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, among people age 12 or older who reported using pain relievers non-medically in the past year, 70 percent got the drugs from a friend or relative (either for free, purchased, or by theft),” said a fact sheet titled ”A Response to the Epidemic for Prescription Drug Abuse,” on www.WhiteHouseDrugPolicy.gov.

On Saturday, people can take old or leftover prescription drugs to area collection sites from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. To find a local collection site, click here.

Here are some area collection sites open Saturday:

• Aurora: Aurora Police Department, 1200 E. Indian Tr.
  
• Bolingbrook: Bolingbrook Police Department, 375 W. Briarcliff Rd.
  
• Chicago: Metorpolitan Water Reclamation District Plant, 400 E. 130th St.
• Chicago Heights: Sauk Village Police Department, 21801 Torrence Ave.
• Evergreen Park: Evergreen Park Police Department, 9420 S. Kedzie
• Glenview: Glenview Police Department, 2500 E. Lake Ave.
  
• Joliet: Will County Sheriff Office, 14 W. Jefferson St.
• Lockport: Lockport Police Department, 1212 Farrell Rd.
• Mokena: Mokena Police Department, 10907 Front St.
• Naperville: Naperville Police Department, 1350 Aurora Ave.
• Oak Lawn: Oak Lawn Police Department, 9446 S. Raymond Ave.
• Palos Heights: Palos Heights Police Department, 7607 W. College Dr.
• Plainfield: Plainfield Police Department, 605 Elm Pl.
  

Many municipalities, such as New Lenox, maintain collection sites year round. In New Lenox, the site is located at the police department, 200 Veterans Parkway.

Proper disposal of prescription medication is one of a four-prong prevention plan outlined by President Barack Obama’s administration. The other three are education, monitoring, and enforcement.

State Rep. Emily McAsey (D-Lockport) is encouraging people to participate.

“Most households have old medications that they don’t necessarily know how to dispose of properly, and that can be dangerous if they get in the hands of young children,” McAsey said in a press release. “To ensure proper disposal, local law enforcement is conveniently providing free drop-off locations across our community to collect these old medications. I urge everyone to take advantage of this unique opportunity.”