People urged to trash old drugs

PROVO — More and more Utah County residents are falling prey to substance abuse through prescription medicines — leading officials to declare September "Clean Out the Cabinet" month.

The Utah County Commission signed a proclamation Tuesday morning that expressed their concern about the nearly 22.2 million people in the United States who have dealt with substance abuse in the last year.

"It's a pretty tough deal," said Utah County Commissioner Steve White. "Drugs are a much more dangerous thing than we want to believe."

The proclamation encourages individuals to dispose of expired, unused prescription medicines or lock them up to prevent family members or friends from abusing them.

It will also "protect their families from home invasions and make their neighborhoods safer," according to the proclamation.

In 2006 there were 485 deaths related to prescription medicine overdoses — nearly 25 percent of the workload of the state medical examiner's office, said Pat Bird, Utah County Division of Substance Abuse prevention manager.

To avoid the temptation, residents are encouraged to smash up old pills, mix them with kitty litter or coffee grounds and throw them in the garbage, rather than flush them down the toilet.

Many retail pharmacies and police departments in Utah County will also accept unused or out-of-date prescriptions for destruction.

Residents who want more information about proper disposal procedures can visit www.cleanoutthecabinet.org.