City of Tulsa Holds Prescription Take Back Event

City of Tulsa Holds Prescription Take Back Event

The city of Tulsa held a prescription drug take-back event on Saturday, May 16th, 2015. The event gave community and area residents the opportunity to dispose of unwanted, unused and outdated medications and prescription drugs in a safe and environmentally-friendly manner.


Tulsa Drug Take-Back Event

Three convenient locations were available to area Oklahomans to safely dispose of unwanted prescription drugs and medications on Saturday between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.—the Reasor’s parking lots at 71st and Sheridan; the Reasor’s parking lot at 41st and Yale; and the Save-A-Lot parking lot at Pine and Lewis.

Nearly two Oklahomans die every day due to prescription drug overdose; and it is the leading cause of death for Oklahomans 25 to 64 years of age. Oklahoma ranks fifth in the nation for drug overdose deaths, and studies reveal that those abusing prescription drugs commonly get them from family and friends.

Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartley focused on prescription drug abuse as a key issue in his Safer, Stronger Tulsa safety series. He expressed the city of Tulsa’s commitment to addressing prescription drug abuse, noting it impacts public safety, and affects the quality of life for people in the community. The Mayor further noted that drug take-back events are a critical part of addressing prescription drug abuse while providing Tulsa residents a way to properly dispose of medications.

The Tulsa Prescription Drug Take-Back event was conducted by the Tulsa Police Department, Tulsa County Medical Society, the Coalition Against Prescription and Substance Abuse of Tulsa (CAPSAT), Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs, and the City of Tulsa Water & Sewer Department.

Tulsa residents—and all Oklahomans—are urged not to flush prescription drugs and other medications down toilets, but to dispose of them properly. Wastewater treatment plants do no remove the chemicals found in many prescription drugs and medications, and these chemicals can end-up in streams and groundwater when not properly disposed of.

Any time of the years, Tulsa residents can take unwanted, unused and expired prescription drugs to the Tulsa county Sheriff’s Office, and any one of the three Tulsa Police Division Headquarters.


Take-Back Tulsa: Rx Drug Abuse Prevention Forum

On Friday, May 15th, the day prior to the Tulsa Prescription Drug-Take Back event, the reigning Mrs. America, Michelle Evans, spoke at the OSU Center for Health Services, sharing her personal story on the devastation that addiction can cause. A native of Tulsa, Mrs. Evans joined a panel of guests, including Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics representatives, in a Q & A session following her keynote speech. Attendance was free-of –charge, including a complimentary lunch.


AUTHOR
K

Karen

After writing promotional content for non-profit organizations and healthcare professionals for 25 years, Karen turned her focus to drug addiction and recovery. She spent two years working in the trenches in a Narconon drug rehab center and two more years at Narconon International with their drug information services. For nearly two decades, she has followed the trends of drug abuse, addiction and drug trafficking around the world, as well as changes in the field of addiction treatment. As a result of her constant research, she has produced more than two million words of educational and informative material on drug use and recovery so those who are addicted and their families can find lasting solutions. She gives talks and presentations to educate and inform those interested in countering substance use and arming people with educational tools to improve their communities. She continues to travel across the United States to learn the experiences and opinions of individuals related to substance abuse and recovery.

NARCONON ARROWHEAD

DRUG EDUCATION AND REHABILITATION