On Saturday, the Reno Police Department partnered with local agencies to host a prescription drug round-up in Washoe County.
According to the RPD the Centers for Disease Control has declared prescription drug abuse an epidemic in our nation and Nevada has one of the highest rates of death due to prescription drug overdose.
Medications including household prescriptions, over the counter drugs and even sharps were collected to be disposed.
Drug Abuse Prevention Coordinator, Stacy Ward, says this event can help save lives.
“Prescription medications while they're safe if it's prescribed for you, they're not safe for just recreational use and it's not safe to take somebody else's medication that wasn't for you even if you're sick or you're hurt," says Ward.
Since 2009 this event has collected close to 1.5 million prescription pills. More than 180,000 of those pills were categorized as commonly abused painkillers, depressants and stimulants.
Organizer Jennifer Delett-Snyder says that one in five teens has said they've used a prescription drug that wasn't prescribed to them.
“For Parents who have narcotics or other potentially addictive drugs, lock them up,” says Delett-Snyder.
For those who weren't able to make it out to the round-up event, permanent drug drop boxes are available at local police departments. These drop boxes will not accept liquids or needles, and will only accept pills.
