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* From an Alton Telegraph story entitled “Getting rid of dangerous meds”…
Madison County officials are urging people to bring any unused prescription drugs to a site near the County Administration Building from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Saturday, April 27, as part of the National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day.
State’s Attorney Tom Gibbons reminded people that many serious illegal drug habits start with young people taking unused prescription medications as a cheap high.
Many deceased heroin addicts started out taking prescription painkillers, Coroner Steve Nonn said. […]
Last September, six sites in Madison County collected 1,310 pounds of prescription medications. Nationwide, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration took in 244 tons at 5,263 take-back sites that were located in all 50 states and U.S. territories.
That’s a really good idea. More like this, please. But allow me a brief aside.
* During the Illinois House’s years-long debate over medical marijuana, we heard lots of people complaining about driving under the influence. That’s actually addressed in the new legislation, but there are no specific state laws governing, for example, driving after taking Oxycontin, which is as potent as heroin.
There’s been plenty of discussion about how the FDA hasn’t approved marijuana for medicinal use, but that’s mainly just a matter of cowardly domestic politics and the failed and mindless (and self-perpetuating) war on illegal drugs. The feds have approved infinitely stronger, and far more debilitating “dangerous” meds that can hook people for life and totally fry their brains.
The “take-back” program is just common sense government. It’s a rational, calm, responsible approach to a real problem. That’s all most of us are arguing for here with medical marijuana.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Apr 23, 13 @ 9:57 am
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that’s mainly just a matter of cowardly domestic politics and the failed and mindless (and self-perpetuating) war on illegal drugs……
Rich, quit beating around the bush, please tell us how you really feel next time!
Comment by Hank Tuesday, Apr 23, 13 @ 10:02 am
“but there are no specific state laws governing, for example, driving after taking Oxycontin, which is as potent as heroin.” agree to the potency of oxycontin, but am curious if DUI would cover this. DUI does not specify alcohol to my knowledge, but am not really familiar with it.
Comment by wizard Tuesday, Apr 23, 13 @ 10:13 am
The bigger problem with unused prescription medications is environmental. Most of the time they get dumped in the garbage or the toilet. Once every so often collection programs don’t help that much.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Apr 23, 13 @ 10:18 am
Oops the last comment was from me.
Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Apr 23, 13 @ 10:19 am
Careful, Rich, some wise old silverbacks will be dismissing you as a foolish young hippy dippy any minute. And as we can see from the state of the state, nation, and world, those wise old silverbacks certainly know a thing or two about running things!
Comment by Colossus Tuesday, Apr 23, 13 @ 10:20 am
Oxy and Vics are very scary, highly addictive FDA-approved drugs.
The majority of fatal drug overdoses are from prescription drugs, with painkillers leading the way. Of those, 83% are accidental, according to JAMA.
The idea that people will scam the system to get stoned with weed when docs will prescribe mind-blowers like Oxy and Vic is absurd.
Let me know the next time someone dies from an accidental overdose of weed.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-204_162-57570385/with-drug-overdose-deaths-on-rise-experts-push-to-recognize-signs-of-addiction/
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Apr 23, 13 @ 10:21 am
Rich, the “take-back” program is sponsored by the DEA and is a nation-wide event held each year. Sheriff’s and police departments across the country collect unwanted/expired prescription meds each year.
Comment by transplant Tuesday, Apr 23, 13 @ 10:24 am
In Illinois “Calm and Rational” seems to be held up as always the purist form of human dialogue.
House on fire? Calm down, no big deal, relax, trust us, its all gonna be ok.
Legalizing Marijuana? Calm down, its ok, we have it all figured out. Trust us….its gonna be ok.
Pensions? Calm down, relax, we got it under control. No need to raise your voice….
War zone on south side of Chicago? Settle down, its gonna be ok, its all under control….just let us pass some legislation to work it all out….be calm and rational……we got this…
The point is that Illinois too often tells the citizenry “we got it under control.” However, rarely is it actually “under control.”
Why should anyone believe Medicinal Marijuana is going to be anything other than another mess.
However…I should probably calm down and be more rational about this, and express my opposition in a way that is unoffensive to supporters of SB 1.
Comment by John A Logan Tuesday, Apr 23, 13 @ 10:34 am
We need to figure out how to practically get these out of our water supply regardless. It’s not just a disposal issue. Much of the prescription meds actually pass unchanged through our bodies and into our toilets. It’s unavoidable.
Comment by walkinfool Tuesday, Apr 23, 13 @ 10:36 am
GmanJim should be comforted to know that last week the FDA blocked generic drug makers who wanted to make the older, more abused version of Oxycontin — BlowHard Rushs’ junk of choice — It is hard to imagine that FDA —The Gman’s touchstone — had to order this action. The drug makers were ready to roll.
Comment by CircularFiringSquad Tuesday, Apr 23, 13 @ 10:40 am
Prescription drug disposal is a serious enough issue that agencies tasked with water cleanliness are sounding the alarm.MWRDC had produced some very damning studies around 2007-2009 about the levels of prescription meds in their water. In addition to all the antidepressants and painkillers they could find, apparently birth control hormones are beginning to mess up marine life.
This shouldn’t be a once a year thing. There should be deposit boxes in every pharmacy/drug store where people can drop these things off every day, just like we should be able to drop off electronics and batteries for recycling at any place where they are sold.
Flushing this stuff down is like a kid cleaning his room by shoving everything under the bed. Out of sight might be out of mind but it’s not “clean” or “done the right way”.
“So long and thanks for all the fish!”
Comment by Colossus Tuesday, Apr 23, 13 @ 10:54 am
Also helps keep them out of the waste stream and the issues that can happen when they are flushed down the toilet
Comment by OneMan Tuesday, Apr 23, 13 @ 10:57 am
Voluntary = Good
Law = Bad
Comment by Cincinnatus Tuesday, Apr 23, 13 @ 11:05 am
FYI: For those living in the Cook County area: the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District is teaming up with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s national “Take-Back” Initiative from 10am to 2pm on Saturday, April 27. Drop off points are the Stickney Plant, 6001 W. Pershing, Cicero, O’Brien Plant, 3500 Howard, Skokie, and Calumet Plant, 400 E. 130th, Chicago. For more info: www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov
Comment by Commissioner Mariyana Spyropoulos Tuesday, Apr 23, 13 @ 11:10 am
–Voluntary = Good
Law = Bad–
Anarchist, huh?
From Madison:
–“If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary. In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself. A dependence on the people is, no doubt, the primary control on the government; but experience has taught mankind the necessity of auxiliary precautions.” –
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Apr 23, 13 @ 11:12 am
–Why should anyone believe Medicinal Marijuana is going to be anything other than another mess.–
What kind of mess you worried about?
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Apr 23, 13 @ 11:31 am
What he means is Old Testament, Wordslinger, real wrath of God type stuff.
Fire and brimstone coming down from the skies! Rivers and seas boiling!
Forty years of darkness! Earthquakes, volcanoes…
The dead rising from the grave!
Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together… mass hysteria!
Comment by Colossus Tuesday, Apr 23, 13 @ 11:39 am
To the contents of this post, perhaps I am an anarchist.
Government has a proper role in our lives, that’s why we, the people cede control, in a limited fashion, to our government. Apparently, you think that in this instance, to this post’s comments, that a law should be created requiring the pill disposal? Is that what you’re saying?
Comment by Cincinnatus Tuesday, Apr 23, 13 @ 11:40 am
Cinci -
I believe that, yes, there should be a law. You can either view the medication as physical pills that are the property and responsibility of their owner to dispose of properly. Or you can view them as chemicals that can infiltrate our collectively shared water supply that need to be disposed of properly. Depending on your view, you can reasonably put the onus on the owners for proper disposal.
But whichever way you look at it, property vs. chemicals, the end result is that they must be disposed of, and dumping them down the drain creates an unhealthy situation for everyone at the convenience of the owner.
Seems to me this is just the kind of thing government is for, to prevent spoiling the commons by shortsighted self interest.
Comment by Colossus Tuesday, Apr 23, 13 @ 11:43 am
–Apparently, you think that in this instance, to this post’s comments, that a law should be created requiring the pill disposal? Is that what you’re saying?–
I’d have to educate myself on current applicable laws, but it’s possible. They’re dangerous substances and need to be disposed of properly.
You don’t change your oil over a manhole or chuck an old car battery in the garbage.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Apr 23, 13 @ 11:49 am
In Normal IL (no pun)they have a secure drug drop off by the police department so people can dispose of drugs safely. We need more of these.
Comment by INDEPENDENT Tuesday, Apr 23, 13 @ 12:10 pm
Cinci, I think the issue is this: you object to a law mandating safe disposal of dangerous drugs and yet also raise concerns about lifting laws to decriminalize a relatively safe drug, ie, marijuana.
Pick a lane. Narcotic pain relievers are vastly more dangerous than pot. Yet pot is illegal and prescription medicine is not. Both are widely abused, but only one is criminalized, and it’s the more dangerous than the other illegal drug.
Both are considered controlled substances, yet you oppose a law that would control prescription narcotics? How do you reconcile those beliefs?
Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Apr 23, 13 @ 12:17 pm
Regarding the DUI issue, I believe the current statute addresses all drugs, both legal and illegal:
http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp?DocName=062500050K11-501
Comment by Fred's Mustache Tuesday, Apr 23, 13 @ 12:17 pm
FM, but only under officer discretion. HB1 has specific rules for those with med-mar scripts. No such thing for Oxycontin.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Apr 23, 13 @ 12:33 pm
@Cinci:
Do you think all issues of public safety should be voluntary? What could you possible have against an issue such as drug disposal? I for the life of me do not understand the lengths some will go to oppose government regulation. Even the most rational laws are fodder for disdain from some of you.
Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Apr 23, 13 @ 12:42 pm
I might be wrong, but the potential water/prescription drug problem is related to hormonal type drugs and antibiotics (another thing handed out like candy that most people don’t worry about) instead of painkillers, right?
Comment by Arthur Andersen Tuesday, Apr 23, 13 @ 12:47 pm
When my grandmother passed, I contacted her pharmasist (Walgreen’s) to see what we should do with her remaining medication. They instructed me to flush them down the toliet.
Comment by Anon Tuesday, Apr 23, 13 @ 1:06 pm
=== Apparently, you think that in this instance, to this post’s comments, that a law should be created requiring the pill disposal? Is that what you’re saying? ===
That would be the last thing I would advocate. All that would do is penalize the elderly and infirm.
EPA and, if it’s such a big criminal issue, law enforcement should meet with pharmaceutical companies on their concerns. Is it feasible to create a drop-off program at pharmacies? Can they work on education initiatives? Every time you pick up a prescription you receive pages of warnings on side-effects, etc. Perhaps some verbiage can be added addressing the disposal issue. Some options may involve some costs (such as the actual collection and disposal of items dropped off at the stores) that can be funded through a public-private partnership.
Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Apr 23, 13 @ 1:11 pm
=== FM, but only under officer discretion. HB1 has specific rules for those with med-mar scripts. No such thing for Oxycontin. ===
Good to know. Thanks for the info.
Comment by Fred's Mustache Tuesday, Apr 23, 13 @ 1:25 pm
47th,
I have NEVER offered an opinion on marijuana.
Demoralized,
To repeat. This issue. This post. You can generalize all you want, which is just another example of people talking through people to score points. Geesh.
Comment by Cincinnatus Tuesday, Apr 23, 13 @ 1:51 pm
OK, thanks Cinci. I stand corrected.
Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Apr 23, 13 @ 2:22 pm
47th,
And over beer, in a dark secluded corner, with no witnesses, under cover of dark, I’ll explain why…
Comment by Cincinnatus Tuesday, Apr 23, 13 @ 3:05 pm
@Cinci:
And I think you are wrong on this post. You seem to be anti-government regulation in general from other comments you have made in the past. I stand by my statement about you.
Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Apr 23, 13 @ 4:55 pm
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Comment by www.changuscampbell.com Tuesday, Apr 23, 13 @ 6:39 pm
The “Take-Back” program sounds like a GREAT idea (just like final passage of Med Mar would be, too) and the S.A. in that County is to be commended–how’s about one of you brilliant Il. Legislators proposing such a Plan STATEWIDE???!
Comment by Just The Way It Is One Tuesday, Apr 23, 13 @ 7:53 pm