Rhode Island Drug Take Back: More Than A Ton Collected

More than a ton of unused prescription drugs were collected in Rhode Island during the Drug Enforcement Administration's National Prescription Drug Take Back Day April 28, officials said. Drugs were collected — no questions asked — at more than 140 locations across the state, mostly police stations. About 3,300 pounds of drugs were collected in all. Across New England, more than 44 tons of drugs were collected.

Authorities said the collections keep unused drugs out of the hands of potential abusers and out of local water supplies. The drugs collected in Rhode Island represented a "significant" amount, according to U.S. Attorney Stephen Dambruch.

“Proper disposal is a simple yet significant step in preventing prescription medications from being abused," Dambruch said in a statement.

Aside from the collection events, many police stations in Rhode Island have drug collection boxes in lobbies that can be accessed 24 hours a day.

DEA officials cited a recent national survey that claimed 6.4 million Americans abuse prescription drugs. Most of those drugs are obtained from home medicine cabinets, according to the 2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.

Another national drug take back event will be held in October.

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