The Most Dangerous Leftovers: Unused Medications

In conjunction with National Rx Take Back Days, Rogers County Volunteers for Youth is hosting Prescription Take-Back events in Foyil and Oologah. Several locations are available in Rogers County for medication drop off anytime.

Fifty-two people die from opioid pain medications every day in the United States. Studies have shown that the Unites States, with less than 5% of the world’s population, consumes 80% of the global supply of opioid drugs.
Oklahoma prescribes more prescription pain killers than most states, and, is one of 12 states that saw its youth drug overdose death rate triple over the past 10 years. Most drug overdose deaths in Oklahoma involve at least one prescription drug.
Medicines in the home are a leading cause of accidental poisoning. Over half of teens abusing medicines get them from a family member or friend, often straight from the medicine cabinet.
From 2010-2014, 63 Rogers County residents died from prescription pain medications, and an additional 83 people suffered non-fatal overdoses from the same medications.
It’s a great time to clean out your medicine cabinet! “Prescription drug abuse is a huge problem, and this is a great opportunity for all of us to help reduce the threat,” says Amy Graham, Project Director for Cherokee Nations Partnership for Success funding in Rogers County. Protect our kids and families by properly disposing of your unwanted and expired medicines and make your home safe from drug theft and abuse.
In conjunction with National Rx Take Back Days sponsored by the Drug Enforcement Agency, Rogers County Volunteers for Youth is hosting Prescription Take-Back events in Foyil and Oologah. The Foyil event will be Tuesday, April 19 from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. at the Foyil Community Center. The first 50 people to drop medicines will receive a $10 gift card. The Oologah event will be Saturday, April 23 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the corner of Highways 88 and 169. The first 50 people to drop medicines will receive a $10 gift card. Take unneeded and unused medications to one of these Rogers County sites anytime: Rogers County Sheriff Department, Claremore Police Department, Catoosa Police Department, Inola Police Department and Chelsea Police Department.