Palatine police Drug Take-Back Day a success

Palatine police say they collected 140 pounds of unwanted prescription medications Oct. 22 when they took part in the Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) National Drug Take-Back Day.

The initiative provided people with the opportunity to drop off old or unused prescription drugs at the Palatine police station for disposal. The department took the event a step further by also accepting capped syringes, not normally allowed as part of the DEA program. People dropping off medications were assured anonymity with a "no questions asked" procedure.

Police say it is important that citizens rid their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs. Cleaning out old prescription drugs from homes reduces accidents, thefts, and the misuse and abuse of medicines. Of special concern are the opioid painkillers that accounted for 20,808 drug overdoses (78 per day) in 2014, according to Center for Disease Control and Prevention.