r By Shannon M. AcorrSpringville volunteers gathered on a beautiful Saturday morning to collect 82 pounds of expired and unused prescription and over the counter medications at a drug take-back event. The Semi-Annual Drug Take Back Events take place in the spring and fall all around the country. The Take Backs are sponsored by the Drug Enforcement Agency.
Springville has taken part since the event’s inception in 2010. Volunteers collect the medication from citizens, cross off any identifying information, dump them all together in collection containers, and then turn the containers over to the police officer or DEA agent to be incinerated.
According to a 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health more Americans were abusing prescription drugs than those using heroin, cocaine, hallucinogens and inhalants combined. There was and still is an urgent need to protect our families and communities.
The first Drug Take Back Event occurred on September 25th, 2010. They continue to be great a reminder to Springville citizens to take a day twice a year to clean out their medicine cabinets. In Springville, a permanent drop box is located inside the doors of the Police Station at 110 South Main. It is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
