Crime & Safety

Niles Police Collect 130 Pounds of Rx Drugs

The drugs are a gateway to illegal drug use, police say.

 

Niles police announced they collected 130 pounds of expired and unneeded prescription medication on Saturday, which was National Drug Takeback Day.

In cooperation with the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Niles Police Department collected the unwanted prescription medication from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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The 130 pounds topped the amount collected during a similar prescription drug takeback day in April, when 98 pounds of unneeded prescription medication was collected. 

Referencing data from the National Institutes of Health, Niles Police said that among adolescents, prescription and over-the-counter medications account for most of the commonly abused illicit drugs by high school seniors (after cannabis).

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Part of this is due to the availability of prescription and over-the-counter medications.

“It is why events like the National Drug Take Back Day are so important," said Niles Police Chief Dean Strzelecki in a statement. "Taking these drugs out of the medicine cabinets reduces the likelihood of abuse across the entire community.” 

Educational events, such as its Prescription Drug Abuse Awareness Seminar, are available to the community through the police department's outreach efforts.

To make arrangements for a presentation to your group or school, contact Sgt. Robert Tornabene at (847) 588-6505.


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