| Updated: 9/29/2012 11:57 pm |
Published: 9/29/2012 8:27 pm
|
Oklahoma ranks among the top states for drug overdose rates.
Many of those cases coming from abused prescription drugs.
Tulsa Drug Enforcement Agency and its partners hosted “Take-Back Day” to help remove these drugs from the streets.
"These are the things I no longer need or use," said Joan Vande Bogart as she dropped off old prescription drugs.
People across Tulsa, like Vande Bogart, dumped bags of expired, unused and unwanted drugs into drop boxes.
"I have grandchildren and of course I wouldn't want my grandchildren to find something and take it," said Vande Bogart.
She and her husband dropped off their outdated medications hoping to make their home safer for their grandchildren.
"You hope they'd never do that but you just don't want to give them that opportunity," she told FOX23.
Studies by the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous drugs show the number of drug-related deaths in Oklahoma rose. In 2001, 344 deaths were recorded. In 2010, drug related deaths climbed to over 808. About 80-percent of those deaths are from prescription drugs.
"Mixing them and matching them isn't wise, it's dangerous," said Marie Ahrens.
She’s a nurse who volunteered her Saturday to help law enforcement collect the pills. She says the biggest problem she sees is teens and young adults consuming different prescription drugs together.
"Terrible. Terrible,” Ahrens said. “There are things can be done."
The pills dropped off at the drop sites will be put into an incinerator to be destroyed. Organizers ask that you not dump pills down the toilet because it contaminates the water system. They also ask that you not throw them away because an addict could go through the trash to get the pills.
"Be aware that anybody could intentionally or inadvertently get a hold of medications that will do them damage," said Ahrens.
Organizers have collected 1.5 million pounds in the last four Take Back events.
You can dump your pills off year round, Below is a list of places you can take the prescription drugs to be disposed of properly:
Tulsa Police Gilcrease Division
3436 N. Delaware Ave. Tulsa, OK
Tulsa Police Mingo Valley Division
10122 E. 11th St. Tulsa, OK
Tulsa Police Riverside Division
7515 S. Riverside Dr. Tulsa, OK
Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office, Faulkner Building
303 W. 1st St. Tulsa, OK
Broken Arrow Police Department
2302 1st Place, Broken Arrow
Sand Springs Police Department
100 E. Broadway, Sand Springs
Bixby Police Department
116 W. Needles, Bixby OK
Sapulpa Police Department
20 N. Walnut, Sapulpa, OK
