Comanche Nation to Host Unused Prescription Drug Turn-In Event

According to the most recent statistics, over 645,000 people have died this century directly correlated to the opioid epidemic in America, and having experienced some shocking revelations, it's understandable how the stats match up here in Oklahoma.

When my mother's parents neared the end of their long lives, they ended up moving into my old bedroom at the family home.

Along with some of their personal belongings--bedding, a few pieces of furniture, etc... they also brought with them their medicine cabinet in order to prolong what was left of their life. When they both passed, it was surprising what was left in that box of meds.

Several bottles of valium, older more addictive types of painkillers, the good old-fashioned cough syrup with codeine in it... The creme de la creme of effective medicines providers just don't prescribe anymore--not in the sense of a desire to abuse them, but in terms of seeing medicine that works again.

I can only assume that this is just one of the most likely ways prescription drugs get passed around in the illicit circles of the state. Literally, family leftovers.

All the same, I worked with a gal once who had three different doctors who provided her enough Xanax scripts to fund her personal habit by selling the excess at trendy clubs like Gertlestones back in the day.

I can only assume the same perception is as common today as it always has been... How can it be bad if it's prescribed?

Twenty-something years of the opioid epidemic, the picture has never been so clear. And while opioids are still considered the top medication to be vigilant of, fentanyl is just as common in prescriptions these days too. It's not just a border issue as the media would have you believe.

So what do you do with excess medications? You dispose of them safely and responsibly.

Comanche Nation Prevention & Recovery is hosting National Take Back Day in Southwest Oklahoma on October 21st. They're setting up several drop-off sites for excess, unused, unwanted, leftover, and expired medications.

If you have any in your home that you'd like to get rid of in the safest way possible, here are the details.