LTC 221-2018 Drug Enforcement Administration's Prescription Drug3
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
NO. LTC# LETTER TO COMMISSION
221-2018
TO: Mayor Dan Gelber and Members o! the City Coati missi
FROM: Jimmy L. Morales, City Manager
DATE: April 23, 2018
SUBJECT: Drug Enforcement Administratici's Prescription Drug Take Back Event
on April 28, 2018
This letter to the Mayor and City Commission is to inform you of the Drug . Enforcement
Administration's Prescription Drug Take Back Event, April 28th, 2018. This is a national
effort to ensure that unused or expired medications do not contribute to serious problems
in our community, as evidenced by the following (provided by the DEA):
• Unused or expired prescription medications are a public safety issue, leading to
accidental poisoning, overdose, and abuse.
• Pharmaceutical drugs can be just as dangerous as street drugs when taken
without a prescription or a doctor's supervision.
• The non-medical use of prescription drugs ranks second only to marijuana as the
most common form of drug abuse in America.
• The majority of teenagers abusing prescription drugs get them from family and
friends — and the home medicine cabinet.
• Unused prescription drugs thrown in the trash can be retrieved and abused or
illegally sold. Unused drugs that are flushed contaminate the water supply. Proper
disposal of unused drugs saves lives and protects the environment.
In support of this national effort, the Miami Beach Police Department will host an official
drop off site for anyone wishing to safely discard of expired or unwanted prescription
drugs. Prescription drugs may be dropped off with the Police Officer at the Report
Control Center in the lobby of the police station, 1100 Washington Avenue from 10:00
a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
JLM:DJO:tr