By Denice Thibodeau, Danville Register & Bee, Va.
(MCT)
Nov. 11--The latest efforts to keep unwanted, unused prescription drugs from being
misused netted 163 pounds of drugs in Danville and Pittsylvania County and a
total of 9,450 pounds statewide.
The national drive for unwanted prescription drugs was initiated in 2010
and is scheduled twice a year. Danville and Pittsylvania County held an extra
drive this year in July.
Cpl. T.B. Scearce, of the Danville Police Department, said the extra
drive was set up by a pharmacy intern who had to do a community event for
graduation. She organized a health fair and take-back day for that event. An
extra 66 pounds of prescription drugs were picked up at that event, Scearce
said.
Scearce said the October event was a success.
"I'm tickled to death -- I think it was outstanding," Scearce said. "I
was very impressed with the turnout."
The initiative was started to help combat prescription drug abuse, and to
make people aware that their medicine cabinets could be full of unwanted
prescription drugs that could be abused by family members.
Once the drugs are collected, they are turned over to the Drug
Enforcement Administration for disposal. Virginia National Guard soldiers take
the drugs to a facility in northern Virginia for disposal.
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