The abuse and misuse of pharmaceutical drugs throughout Nova Scotia is of concern to police and from a public health perspective. According to a media release issued by the RCMP, there is a direct correlation between prescription drug abuse and criminal activity. It is felt the drop-off initiative will help reduce the number of prescription drugs such as opioids, on our streets and in our communities.
In 2010, one in five (20.6 per cent) Canadians aged 15 years and older reported the use of opioid pain relievers in the past 12 months, with 1.1 per cent reporting this use was to get high. Recreational use seems to be most prevalent among youth – according to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, in 2009, 20 per cent of students in grades 7 to 12 reported using at least one prescription drug without a doctor’s prescription.
The public is being asked to do their part by cleaning out their medicine cabinets and drawers of unused medications and dropping them off on Saturday May 11 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the following designated drop-off sites.
•Amherst
Old Amherst Town Hall, 5 Ratchford Street
•Annapolis Valley
Kentville, Centre Square
Berwick Wilson’s Pharmasave parking lot
Middleton Pharmasave parking lot
New Minas, Lawtons Drugs
•Bible Hill
MacQuarries Pharmasave, 241 Pictou Rd.
•Bridgewater
Bridgewater Mall
•Enfield
Enfield Pharmachoice, 284 Hwy 2
•Eskasoni
Eskasoni RCMP Detachment, 4835 Shore Rd.
•Halifax Region
MicMac Mall at the Police Week Displays inside the mall by the Bay Department store. *Note hours for this drop-off are from 9 a.m.- 6 p.m.
•Indian Brook
Guardian Drugs, Shubenacadie, 2815 Main Street
•Parrsboro
Wright’s Pharmasave, 187 Main St.
•Pictou Landing
Pictou Landing Health Centre, 19 Maple St.
•Pugwash
O’Brien’s Pharmachoice, 98 Water St.
•Stellarton, Westville, New Glasgow
Central Supplies parking lot, 60 Lawrence Blvd, Stellarton
•Stewiacke
Guardian Drugs, 49 Riverside Ave.
•Sydney Cape Breton
Mayflower Mall, Sydney
•Tatamagouche
C.G. Fulton Pharmacy, 255 Main St.
•Truro
Truro Police Service, 776 Prince St.
•Wagmatcook (May 13th, not 11th)
Wagmatcook Health Centre, 47 Humes Rear Rd.
•Whycocomagh
Waycobah Health Centre, 150 Reservation Rd.
Get Prescription Drugs Off The Street Society 
This is such an important aspect of the current prescription drug epidemic. If every single family goes through and disposes of their unwanted, unused and expired medications it will stop at least one avenue for prescription drugs being diverted to the street! As soon as I found out my daughter, Olivia died as a result of an accidental prescription drug overdose at the age of 15 on Tuesday, April 3, 2012, I have wanted a local drug drop-off day and here it is! Please support this initiative and help the police keep these drugs off the streets and out of our kids hands!