TULSA, OK – [April 27, 2016] – Tulsa County residents are encouraged to empty medicine cabinets, bedside tables, and kitchen drawers of unwanted, unused, and expired prescription drugs for a local prescription drug take-back day on Saturday, April 30.
The event will take place at three convenient locations from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Reasor’s at 71st & Sheridan, Reasor’s at 41st & Yale, and the M.e.t. at 11th & Cincinnati.
The purpose of a take-back day is to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposal, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of these medications. This service is free and anonymous. No syringes, inhalers or liquids will be accepted.
“Prescription drug abuse and overdose is a serious problem in Tulsa County,” said Marianne Long, Tulsa Health Department program manager. “Keeping unused and outdated medications in your home may allow them to be stolen or fall into the wrong hands.”
Local surveys have indicated that 62% of teens report easily obtaining prescription drugs from their parent’s medicine cabinet; and more than four in 10 teens (42%) who have misused or abused a prescription drug also obtained it from their parent’s medicine cabinet.
“According to the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs, there were 1,881 visits to the emergency room in Tulsa County due to opiate overdoses from 2012-2014,” said Long.
Permanent drop-off locations at located at all law enforcement offices in Tulsa County. Please visit www.capsat.org for a complete list of locations. For locations outside Tulsa County, please visit: https://portal.obn.ok.gov/takeback/.
This event is hosted by the Tulsa Health Department’s Strategic Prevention Framework – Partnerships for Success (SPF-PFS) program, the Coalition Against Prescription and Substance Abuse of Tulsa (CAPSAT), Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics (OBN), City of Tulsa Water & Sewer Department, and the Metropolitan Environmental Trust (M.e.t.).
Coalition Against Prescription and Substance Abuse of Tulsa
CAPSAT brings together diverse organizations, stakeholders and individuals to advocate for changes in policies, systems and environments for the prevention of substance abuse. The coalition works to prevent non-medical prescription drug and opioid abuse through education, training, treatment, research, and enforcement.
Strategic Prevention Framework – Partnerships for Success (SPF-PFS)
The Tulsa Health Department’s Strategic Prevention Framework – Partnerships for Success (SPF-PFS) program supports an array of activities that build a solid foundation for delivering and sustaining effective substance abuse prevention services. This grant-funded program works to prevent the onset and reduce the progression of the non-medical use of prescription drugs in ages 12-25, reduce substance abuse related problems in communities, and build prevention capacity and infrastructure at the state, tribal and community levels. The program is funded by Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, and the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention.
