Biloxi Police: ‘We want your drugs’

Residents of Biloxi with unused or unnecessary prescription drugs are being asked to bring the drugs to the Lopez-Quave Public Safety Center Saturday between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. so they may be disposed of properly.

The department is again taking part in the Drug Enforcement Agency’s National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. The program aims to provide a safe, convenient and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also raising awareness of about the potential for abuse of medications.

In April, Biloxi residents turned in a total of 40.9 pounds of drugs to the police department as part of a drug take-back program, according to Detective Lt. Aldon Helmert.

The Lopez-Quave Public Safety Center is at 170 Porter Ave., two blocks north of the Biloxi Lighthouse.

Unused medications in homes create a public health and safety concern, because they can be accidentally ingested, stolen, misused, and abused.  While the number of Americans who currently abuse prescription drugs dropped in 2013 to 6.5 million from 6.8 million in 2012, that is still more than double the number of those using heroin, cocaine, and hallucinogens such as LSD and Ecstasy combined, according to the 2013 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.

In addition, 22,134 Americans died in 2011 from overdoses of prescription medications.  Surveys also found that the majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.
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