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Candles were lit and tears were shed during a candlelight vigil Thursday in Pleasanton. The third annual Candlelight Vigil was coordinated by Mothers with a Purpose to remember those lost to drug and alcohol related deaths and those suffering from the disease of addiction.
Mothers with a Purpose formed in 2010 “to raise awareness of the epidemic use of prescription and illicit drugs in our community and to involve various members of the Bay Area in our fight.” Representatives of group will be sharing information about prescription drug abuse
Saturday, Oct. 26, at the City of Pleasanton’s seventh annual drug take back program.
The take back program allows people to get rid of expired prescriptions and keep them out of the hands of those they’re not intended for. According to the DEA and the 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse with prescription drug abuse rates in the U.S. alarmingly high.
The same survey states that more Americans currently abuse prescription drugs than those using cocaine, hallucinogens and heroin combined. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from home medicine cabinets.
“The program allows the public the opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs,” said Police Sergeant Penelope Tamm.
The event runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Pleasanton Police Department, 4833 Bernal Ave. The drop-off is free and anonymous, with no questions asked.
For more information about the drug take back in Pleasanton, contact Tamm at 931-5100.