According to the latest Wood County Youth Survey in 2022, 7.3% of Wood County 7-12 graders have abused prescription painkillers in the last 30 days. That’s a 4.3% increase since 2020. Research indicates availability of prescription drugs as a root cause for abuse among youth.
“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 cabinet, making it important to safeguard medicine in the home,” according to https://www.samhsa.gov/homelessness-programs-resources/hpr-resources/rise-prescription-drug-misuse-abuse-impacting-teens. This necessitates the need to reduce youth access to prescription pain medication.
In response to this need and in an effort to raise awareness of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s National Drug Take Back Day, a drug take back day event will be held (rain or shine) on Saturday, Oct. 28, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Wooster Green Park in downtown Bowling Green.
All are welcome to bring their expired/unwanted prescription medications to this event where lawn games, giveaways, prizes and free food will be available.
This event is made possible by the Wood County Addiction Task Force in partnership with the Wood County Educational Service Center, Wood County Prevention Coalition, Wood County Addiction Response Collaborative and Bowling Green State University.
For more information, contact Aimee Coe at acoe@wcadamh.org
