Google’s Online Tool Helps Consumers Easily Find a Location
Washington, D.C. – The Center for Safe Internet Pharmacies (CSIP) and its members are encouraging Americans to do their part to help curb opioid misuse and accidental drug poisoning by participating in the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s National Prescription Take Back Day on Saturday, October 27 from 10:00 AM-2:00 PM.
“Of the 72,000 drug overdose deaths in 2017, more than 49,000 involved opioids,” explained CSIP Executive Director Marjorie Clifton. “With the majority of misused prescription drugs being obtained from the medicine cabinets of family and friends, participating in DEA’s National Prescription Take Back Day helps families properly dispose of unused or expired medicines and prevent addiction where it most often starts – at home.”
Google LLC, a CSIP board member, announced that once again it will use its homepage to encourage people to use the Google Maps Locator Tool it developed earlier this year with the DEA to help anyone find a place near them to safely dispose of leftover prescription medications.
“Every day 134 people die from opiate related overdoses – and misuse of prescription painkillers is a large contributor to this crisis,” said Google Vice President of Public Policy and Government Affairs, Susan Molinari. “One way that people can help reduce the potential misuse of drugs is to properly dispose of expired or unused medications; this tool is designed to make it easy for everyone to participate in DEA’s Take Back Day events.”
DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day aims to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of medications.
Since the program was launched in 2010, Americans have disposed of 9,964,714 pounds (4,983 tons) of prescription drugs. In April, the public brought the DEA and it’s more than 4,600 local and tribal law enforcement partners a record-setting 949,046 pounds (475 tons) of prescription drugs for disposal at more than 5,800 collection sites.
“The majority of misused prescription drugs are obtained from the medicine cabinets of family and friends, according to the DEA, fueling the nation’s opioid epidemic,” Clifton said. “Participating in this important event helps families properly dispose of unused or expired medicines and prevent addiction where it most often starts – at home.”
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About the Center for Safe Internet Pharmacies (CSIP)
The Center for Safe Internet Pharmacies (CSIP), a non-profit organization founded in 2011, represents the technology sector and Internet intermediaries. CSIP’s mission is to promote best practices in the technology and commerce industries and educate consumers about illegal online pharmacies and counterfeit medicines to help keep them safe online.
In 2018, CSIP and the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids launched MedicineSafe, a coalition of national and state public and private partners, to provide information and tools about illegal online pharmacies and counterfeit medicines, opioids, addiction, treatment and recovery.
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