Drug drop-off locations in Delaware
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As a part of National Take-Back Day, New Castle County in Delaware has, yet again, stepped up to the plate.
National Take-Back Day is a Drug Enforcement Agency-developed program that encourages people from all corners of the country to turn in their unused and unwanted prescription drugs twice a year. The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) developed this event in an effort to “provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of medications.”
On National Take-Back Day itself, New Castle County will have three locations open to the public to take back any unwanted or unused prescription medications. These locations include the Wilmington Police Department, Newark Police Department, and New Castle County Police Department. It is also imperative to mention that the New Castle County Police Department was one of the first locations to install a permanent drop-off box for community residents to use year round. There are now three drop-box locations in New Castle County, alone, with an additional 11 throughout the state.
Since its humble beginnings back in 2010, the small state of Delaware has collected nearly 60,000 pounds of prescription drugs, including those that have expired or were not being used. This program in and of itself has not only been helpful in taking potent and addictive medications off the streets of counties such as New Castle, but has also engaged communities throughout the country to begin taking part in making a difference in the fight against the opioid abuse epidemic.
When strong medications such as oxycodone, fentanyl, Vicodin, etc. are left in medicine cabinets, on nightstands, or within reach of others, they can get into the wrong hands, leading to the abuse of these medications, and unfortunately, fatal overdoses. By collecting any unused medications and turning them in to a safe place such as a drop-box, community members are taking strides to reduce the prominence of opioid addictions where they live. They are also helping save the lives of those children and young adults who likely do not know the full extent of the harm that can be caused by the abuse of medications such as these.
Additionally, by encouraging all community members to get involved, the DEA and the authorities within each city or town are able to work to educate the public about opioid abuse and addiction itself. By teaching about addiction as a disease and working with community members to help bring about an understanding that negativity and judgment will only perpetuate an opioid addiction, the stigma surrounding this form of addiction can start to decrease.
Events such as National Take-Back Day can inspire new ideas and creative methods of overcoming challenging tasks such as fighting opioid addiction. Through community partnership and education, people from across the country can begin to have a hand the reduction of this epidemic.
