Texas Border Business
PHARR, Texas – The National Prescription Take Back Day was created by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to educate the community about the importance of proper medication disposal and to reduce the misuse of prescription medications. Since the National Take Back Day takes place twice a year, once in April and once in October, Uniting Neighbors In Drug Abuse Defense (UNIDAD) partnered with CVS, and other community partners, to install year-round, secure drop boxes throughout the community to offer safe, anonymous disposal of unwanted, unused, and expired drugs.
Two-thirds of teens who misused pain relievers in the past year say that they got them from family and friends, including their home’s medicine cabinets, making it important to safeguard medicine in the home, according to the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids. Safe storage and disposal of medications diminish opportunities for easy access.
In Hidalgo County, efforts from the Uniting Neighbors In Drug Abuse Defense (UNIDAD) Coalition and community partners, 14 secured drop boxes are available for the community to be part of the prevention efforts by properly disposing medications. To find the nearest location to you in Hidalgo County, and several other counties in South Texas, visit www.bhsst.org/drop-box-locations.
UNIDAD Coalition focuses on topics such as underage drinking, binge drinking, marijuana and synthetics, and prescription medication misuse. UNIDAD works with local organizations and cities to pass policies that help to prevent drug abuse, one example being the year-round prescription medication drop boxes present thought Hidalgo County.
For more information about Behavioral Health Solutions, or to become a volunteer, please visit our website at www.bhsst.org. You can also join our efforts through our social media at Facebook.com/bhsofsouthtexas, Twitter.com/bhsst, or Instagram.com/bhs_st.
