AG Schimel celebrates Record- Breaking Drug Take-Back Day
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MADISON – Attorney General Schimel announced 62,618 lbs. of prescription drugs were collected on Saturday, April 30, 2016, during Wisconsin’s drug take-back day, a 40% increase over the October 2015 total, which at the time was a record-breaking collection.
“Safe disposal of prescription medications, whether on drug take-back day or at a permanent drug disposal drop box, prevents these potentially dangerous drugs from falling into the wrongs hands where they may be abused,” said Attorney General Brad Schimel. “I am incredibly appreciative of companies like Schneider National Trucking and Covanta Energy Corporation for donating their services and to all our law enforcement partners across Wisconsin for organizing and providing the proper means for safe drug disposal.”
Police and sheriffs’ departments statewide hosted 128 take-back day events the last weekend in April and have provided 256 permanent drug disposal drop boxes, giving citizens a convenient, environmentally-friendly, and anonymous way to dispose of unused medications all year long. Proper drug disposal is essential to preventing prescription painkiller abuse, as 70% of initial painkiller abuse starts when drugs are obtained improperly from family members or friends.
According to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), preliminary numbers show the most recent collection is the largest amount of drugs that has been collected by any state during drug take-back day since the program’s inception. Drug take-back day is a collaborative effort between public and private sector partners and would not be possible without the support of the DEA, the Waukesha County Sheriff’s Department, Wisconsin State Patrol, Schneider National Trucking, Covanta Energy Corporation, and the 238 law enforcement agencies from across the state who participated in April 30th’s biannual drug take-back day.
The 62,618 lbs. of prescription drugs have been boxed, palletized, shrink wrapped, and secured in three Schneider National Trucking semi-trailers for transportation to Covanta Energy Corporation in Indianapolis, where the drugs were incinerated on May 5.
