Mayor Elorza, State and Federal Partners Announce Prescription Drug Take-Back Day Providence plans collection in two locations Saturday, October 22 to reduce misuse and abuse of prescription drugs

PROVIDENCE, RI – Mayor Jorge Elorza announced that the City will hold its
Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, an effort that aims to reduce prescription drug
misuse by collecting unused and expired drugs from residents, this Saturday, October
22, 2016 from 10:00am to 2:00pm.
«Having unused and expired prescription medications at home presents a very alarming
risk for families across the city that must be addressed,» said Mayor Elorza. «I’m
proud that this Saturday, Providence will join a vast coalition of communities to
provide residents a way to safely discard these drugs. I encourage everyone to visit
their nearest take-back site.»
Take-backs will be held at two locations: Walgreens at 533 Elmwood Avenue (corner of
Reservoir Avenue) and the Providence Public Safety Complex at 325 Washington Street.
The Walgreens location, in partnership with Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode
Island, will also hold a health fair featuring a naloxone awareness table, blood
pressure screenings, and special giveaways.
The Mayor was joined in announcing the Take-Back Day and encouraging resident
participation by Kevin Eaton, Group Supervisor for the US Drug Enforcement Agency;
Elizabeth Farrar, Associate Administrator and Prevention Coordinator for the Rhode
Island Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and
Hospitals; Colonel Hugh T. Clements, Jr., Chief of the Providence Police Department;
Peter Asen, Acting Director of the City’s Healthy Communities Office; and Jose
Garcia, District Manager for Walgreens.
Providence residents who cannot make it to Saturday’s take-back can drop off unused
and expired medications any time at a bin in the Providence Public Safety Complex,
as well as a newly installed permanent bin at the Walgreens Pharmacy on Elmwood
Avenue during regular store hours.
Take backs will be happening throughout the state and region on Saturday, with
locations listed on the Drug Enforcement Agency’s home page:
www.DEA.gov.
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.