The Orange County Sheriff’s Office, along with other law enforcement agencies, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Orange County Drug Free Office, CrimeLine and Central Florida HIDTA began preparations for the Sixth National Prescription Take Back Day on Saturday, April 27th.
At a news conference Wednesday, Sheriff Jerry L. Demings joined Jeffrey T. Walsh Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the DEA-Orlando District Office, Dr. Jan Garavaglia, Orange County Medical Examiner, Christine Stilwell, Informed Families and other law enforcement officials in kicking off this local effort of a national endeavor to make our homes safer and also remove potentially addicting drugs from the reach of others.
Recent data from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement reveal that deaths from prescription drugs have plunged during the first 6 months of 2012, when compared to the second half of 2011. Oxycodone death occurrences fell 29.1 percent while all prescription drug deaths dropped by more than 100 people.
The Sixth National Prescription Take Back Day offers a convenient way for residents to safely get rid of unused and expired medications from their home with no questions asked. In the five previous Take-Back events, DEA in conjunction with state and local law enforcement partners have collected more than 2 million pounds (1,018 tons) of prescription medications.
Last month, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office in conjunction with the Orange County Drug Free Office, placed five receptacles in strategic locations across Orange County for the disposal of unwanted or unused prescription and over the counter drugs.
The five receptacles have been placed at Sheriff’s Office facilities, one each at the Central Operations Command Center on West Colonial Drive and sub-stations in Sector 1 – Apopka, Sector 2 – East Orange County, Sector 3 – Ocoee and Sector – 4, off John Young Parkway near the Orange County Jail.
Locally, in the five take back days some 4,600 pounds of prescription drugs had been collected, the Orange County Drug Free Office said.
Surveys indicate that 70% of people 12 and older who abuse prescription drugs get them from a family or friends, and after marijuana prescription drugs are the most commonly abused substances by Americans over the age of 14.
