Prescription Take-Back Day A Success

The prescription drug take-back day Saturday was a big success, says Catherine LeVasseur, the new coalition coordinator for the Madison Alcohol and Drug Education (MADE) coalition.

LeVasseur spent Saturday in front of Madison Youth and Family Services helping to supervise the take-back, which allowed Madison residents to bring back old prescription drugs so that they could be disposed of properly. Also at the take-back site were David Melillo, Madison Youth and Family Services director, and Madison Police Officer Joseph Race.

During a recent presentation sponsored by MADE, Charles Grady, Senior Investigator at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in New Haven., said an alarming rise in pharmaceutical drugs abuse is becoming an epidemic in middle class America. He said the Center for Disease Control says “enough painkillers were prescribed last year to medicate every American adult around the clock for a month.”

“There is a level of social acceptance…it’s just a pill," he said, adding that pills like Vicodin, Roxycotin and Percocet are creating rampant addiction among young people.

The prescription drug take-back day was held in the hopes of getting some of the unused drugs out of circulation.

The Madison Police Department also held a food and toy drive, which garnered a few donations. Officer Race said additional drives would be held soon.