Got Drugs?

 

GOT DRUGS? Turn them in!

As part of a national prescription drug take back, the Salem Police Department is collecting unused pill or other meds on Saturday. And that’s a good thing.

Left unused, drugs can be tempting for children. Properly disposing of them and help prevent abuse or overdose. These are great reasons to let the PD handle your unused meds.

But there are other reasons to properly dispose of your meds. Drugs, from antibiotics to hormones, and even opioids, if flushed or disposed of in any other inappropriate manner, end up in our water supply.

“A study conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey in 1999 and 2000 found measurable amounts of one or more medications in 80% of the water samples drawn from a network of 139 streams in 30 states. The drugs identified included a witches’ brew of antibiotics, antidepressants, blood thinners, heart medications (ACE inhibitors, calcium-channel blockers, digoxin), hormones (estrogen, progesterone, testosterone), and painkillers. Scores of studies have been done since. Other drugs that have been found include caffeine (which, of course, comes from many other sources besides medications); carbamazepine, an antiseizure drug; fibrates, which improve cholesterol levels; and some fragrance chemicals (galaxolide and tonalide).”