Support for Soldiers and Veterans You Gotta Have Heart The Joy of ...

Drug “Take Back”
Collection Hits
New High
The fourth drug “Take Back” event, held
on Saturday, April 28, was the best yet, with
all participating North Shore-LIJ facilities
combined collecting 481 pounds of prescription
drugs. That total represents 9 percent of what
was collected on Long Island, and 8 percent of
what was collected in New York City.
Each year, the rate of prescription drug
abuse increases in the US, as does the number
of accidental poisonings and overdoses. Studies
show that a majority of abused prescription
drugs are obtained from family and friends,
including from home medicine cabinets.
In addition, many Americans do not know
how to properly dispose of their unused
medicines, often flushing them down the
toilet or throwing them away – both potential
safety and health hazards. The “Take Back”
initiative, conducted by the North Shore-LIJ
Health System in partnership with the US
Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
and other government, community, public
health and law enforcement organizations,
seeks to prevent increased pill abuse and theft
by collecting potentially dangerous expired,
unused and unwanted prescription drugs at
system hospitals and disposing of them safely.
“Each time we participate in this event
our numbers increase, which I think is a
reflection of all of the work you all do in
getting the word out, as well as the ongoing
need in our communities,” said Lisa Burch,
MPH, system director of community and
public health. “To illustrate how the initiative
has grown, in October 2011 we collected
319 pounds, in April 2011 we collected 305
pounds and in September 2010 we collected
239 pounds. Once again, thank you for your
participation and thank you for helping to
keep our communities safe.”
The DEA is already planning another
“Take Back” event before the end of the year; it
will be publicized when the date is set.
96 Summer 2012
COMPLIANCE corner