Takeback Day brings in 249lbs of prescription drugs

Overdose deaths in Texas have long been an issue, but, according to DSHS, overdoses have increased during the pandemic. The average number of deaths per month due to overdose rose from 114 in 2019 to 157 deaths per month in the first eight months of 2020. DSHS states that since 2017, opioids have been involved with about 50% of all unintentional overdose deaths.

Most teenagers who abuse prescription drugs say they are given to them for free by a friend or relative. Free access to opioid painkillers makes these teens 40 times more likely to become addicted to heroin. According to the CDC, opioids (including prescription opioids and heroin) killed more than 33,000 people in 2015.

The purpose of Takeback Day is to reduce access to addictive medications for accidental or intentional misuse and overdose by youth and others. Ten local law enforcement agencies teamed up with the Northeast Texas Coalition Against Substance Abuse on Takeback Day to remove these hazardous substances from the community. Locations were set up at grocery stores in Titus, Morris, and Camp Counties. At these locations combined, 249lbs of prescription drugs were received by law enforcement.

NETCASA coordinator Nathan Grounds said, “These numbers are phenomenal and represent a great need that we were able to meet! Thanks to your efforts, we kept 249 lbs. of Rx drugs from getting to the wrong hands. There’s no way we could’ve accomplished this without your help. A special shoutout to the following people: Beverly Austin, MCC; Kami Redding, MCC; Sheriff Jack Martin (Morris County Sheriff ’s Office); Rosita Palmer, Pittsburg; Richard Thompson, Pittsburg; Assistant Chief Lamar (Pittsburg PD); Sgt. Nichols (Pittsburg PD); Eboney Roney, Mt. Pleasant; Sgt. Barrett (Titus County Sheriff ’s Office).”