San Diego, California, U.S.A.

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United Nations Office On Drugs and Crime (UNODC)

...Are unused, unneeded and expired medications filling up your medicine cabinet? Don't know what to do with all of those old prescription drugs? Don't throw expired or unused drugs in the garbage of down the drain! The Drug Enforcement Administration has scheduled the fourth National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day.

Prescription drugs are the second most commonly abused category of drugs, behind marijuana and ahead of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and other drugs.

Approximately six out of ten teens agree that prescription drugs are easy to get from parent's medicine cabinets, according to The Partnership for a Drug Free America 2009. So it is important to properly dispose of medications that are no longer needed.

“I encourage every American to take advantage of this valuable opportunity to safely dispose of unused, unneeded, or expired prescription drugs,” said Gil Kerlikowkse, Director of National Drug Control Policy. “Preventing these readily available, and potentially deadly drugs from being diverted, and misused is something each and every one of us can do to help reduce the epidemic of prescription drug abuse that is harming so many Americans.”

On Saturday, April 28th, the Drug Enforcement Administration will be holding a National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day to be held at locations across the country. The event is free and will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and you can find the collection location nearest you by visiting the DEA's website.
www.deadiversion.gov

Click on the “Got Drugs?” banner at the top of the home page, which connects to a database
that citizens can search by zip code, city or county. This site is continuously updated with new
Take-back locations.

...Alcohol is the most frequently used drug by high school seniors, and its use is increasing. Approximately 11 million American youth under the age of 21 drink alcohol. Nearly half of them drink to excess, consuming five or more drinks in a row, and one or more times in a two weeks period, according to the American Medical Association.

....Alcohol poisoning is relatively common, with 50,000 people in the United States diagnosed with alcohol poisoning each year. It's caused by binge drinking during a short period of time -- the body absorbs alcohol more rapidly than it's able to clear. According to the Mayo Clinic, it takes your body about an hour to completely process one drink (defined as 12 ounces of beer, 1.5 ounces of spirits or 5 ounces of wine). With alcohol poisoning, alcohol enters the brain and causes a loss of consciousness, a drop in body temperature, low blood pressure, coma and even death, according to the CDC.

The National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day provides consumers in every state with a safe means for the disposal of unwanted, unused prescription medications. Authorized DEA take-back sites are coordinated with local law enforcement agencies so that prescription controlled substances may be accepted for disposal. DEA reminds consumers that the take-back service is free and anonymous, with no questions asked. Sites will accept tablets, capsules, and all other solid dosage forms of unwanted medication. Personal information may be blacked out on prescription bottles, or medications may be emptied from the bottles into the bins provided at the events.

by R. Gil Kerlikowske Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy

...Millions of Americans struggle with substance abuse and the negative consequences of their addiction also impact their families, friends, neighbors, and communities. In fact, substance abuse touches every sector of our society, straining our health care and criminal justice systems – costing the U.S. as much as $193 billion annually in recent years. Prevention is the key to reducing this financial burden and building healthy and safe communities across the country. Put simply, it makes more sense to stop drug use before it begins to generate addiction and crime than it does to warehouse people in prisons.

...We know that prevention works. Recent research has shown that each dollar invested in an evidence-based prevention program can reduce costs related to substance use disorders by an average of $18. Community programs have been effective in encouraging prevention at the local level and parents can serve as positive role models by talking with their children about the dangers of drug use. Through effective prevention programs we can decrease emergency room visits, and lower rates of chronic disease, improve student achievement, and enhance workforce readiness. All of these actions are vital at a time when the Country is working tirelessly to recover from a lagging economy. However, this is also the ideal time to get personally involved.
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...Marijuana is a green, brown, or gray mixture of dried, shredded leaves, stems, seeds, and flowers of the hemp plant. There are many different names for marijuana they vary from one part of the country to another.Marijuana contains THC (delta-9- tetrahydrocanna binol), and more than 400 other chemicals. Most often, it is smoked like a cigarette (“joint”), but it can also be mixed in with food, or consumed in other forms such as in teas and baked goods.

...Long-term marijuana use may lead to lack of motivation, not caring about what happens in one’s life, no desire to work regularly, fatigue, and a lack of concern for one’sappearance. Students who use marijuana may find it hard to study and learn. It may also impact athletic performance since marijuana affects timing, movements, and coordination. Because of the drug’s effects on alertness, concentration, coordination, perceptions and reaction time, marijuana users are at a higher risk of being involved in car accidents.

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On February 4, 2012 the San Diego Police Department conducted DUI checkpoints. No doubt about it, Super Bowl Sunday was a great excuse for a party. But party smart and be sure to have a designated driver before you start.
In 2010, more than 10,000 people were killed nationally in motor vehicle traffic crashes that involved at least one driver with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or higher. In California, this deadly crime led to 791 deaths because someone failed to designate a sober driver.
"The message is simple, Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over. Drinking alcohol and driving do not mix. If you plan to consume alcohol, don't get behind the wheel of a vehicle or ride a motorcycle," said Officer Mark McCullough.

2009 Drug Abuse Warning Network Data Now Available for Download.

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