MONTGOMERY, Ala. (Legal Newsline) -- Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange announced Wednesday that the state is benefiting from significant advances in the safe disposal of potentially dangerous prescription medicines.
Strange has actively tried to strengthen and expand Alabama's participation in Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, a program sponsored by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency to stop the misuse and abuse of potentially dangerous expired or unused drugs.
On April 27, the state collected about 5,906 pounds of medications for safe disposal at about 86 collection sites.
"I am encouraged and proud of Alabama's continued support for this valuable program," Strange said in a statement. "This is a tremendous result that far exceeds any of our previous Take-Back events, with almost as much collected this April as in two separate Take-Back events in 2012."
Alabama's previous record for a one-day event was in October, when the state collected 3,057 pounds of medicines.
Last week, House Bill 237, which will allow pharmacies to accept any unused or expired prescription medications for the purposes of destroying them, was signed into law.
"This law further expands the opportunity for people to safely dispose of unused, expired and unwanted medicines at times and places that are convenient and accessible," Strange said.
"Already, the overwhelming participation in Prescription Drug Take-Back Days has taken potentially dangerous drugs out of people's homes, where they could be stolen by burglars or misused by children.
"Once this law is implemented, Alabamians will be able to take in their old medicines to any pharmacy with an active and open Take-Back program. This will enhance the strides we have already made to make our state safer for the people of Alabama."