Did Morpheus have a prescription for the red and blue pills? How about permits for his limitless supply of guns? Questions of unaccounted-for guns and prescription drug abuse concern many residents of Baton Rouge.
While the LSU community prepped for Towson, a game reminiscent of Troy in 2008, Drug Enforcement Administration agents across the country hosted the National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, an event stirring members of the public to anonymously drop off unwanted and unused prescription drugs.
This drive, as well as Gas for Guns, is a necessary ingredient to help clean the streets of Baton Rouge.
As rain poured Saturday, residents from around the city made their way to the Ochsner Health Center, a designated drop-off site for the drug take-back day.
“This gives them a chance to bring their medications to be disposed of,” said Heather Maturin, an Ochsner pharmacy supervisor, who was on hand during the event.
Maturin advised against flushing drugs down the toilet because it could contaminate the water supply. She added that drugs acquired will be disposed of by the DEA.
In April 2011, the event aimed to prevent prescription drug abuse collected a record 552,161 pounds of drugs at sites around the country. In the four times the program has been held, 1.5 million pounds have been collected and removed from distribution.
This drive, as well as Gas for Guns, is a necessary ingredient to help clean the streets of Baton Rouge.
Prescription drugs intended to be taken under the advice of a licensed doctor often end up in the wrong hands — and with dire consequences, including death and addiction.
According to a report by the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics, drug abuse surpassed car accidents in 2008 as the leading cause of accidental death in the U.S., accounting for 41,000 deaths that year.
Though drug abuse among 18- to 25-year-olds fell 14 percent from 2 million to 1.7 million, statistics remain the same for other age groups.
The drug take-back initiative goes hand in hand with Gas for Guns, which encourages people to turn in unused guns in exchange for gas cards.
In 2010, the partnership between Circle K and local law enforcement collected 262 guns at a cost of $16,600 in gas cards.
A similar program, in Waterloo, Iowa, ran out of gas cards within 40 minutes.
According to District Attorney Hillar Moore, the most notable acquisitions in Baton Rouge were 12 assault-style rifles, including AK-47s, a 12-gauge and a Mac-45.
We see the effects of unclaimed guns and prescription drug use. Baton Rouge news is littered with shootings. A walk outside the gates of the University proves how easily one can acquire drugs.
Within 20 minutes of asking around, I was able to find suppliers of OxyContin and Lortabs ready to sell at a moment’s notice.
Increased programs like the two mentioned will result in positive results for the city.
More prescription drug take-back days would lessen the possibility of drugs ending up in the wrong hands, as well as decrease the possibility of water contamination.
Programs would also lessen the financial burden of operating drug addiction facilities throughout Baton Rouge.
These initiatives could help reduce the number of violent crimes committed in the city. Many of these crimes involve stolen guns and drug deals, and sometimes LSU becomes victim of these violent crimes.
The Prescription Drug Take-Back Day and Gas for Guns are infant steps taken to help fight the rising crime in the city—small steps taken in the right direction.
