ASIPP Endorses DEA's 'National Take Back Day'

Initiative Encourages Americans to Safely Dispose of Unwanted or Unused Prescription Medication

NEW YORK, Sept. 21 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians (ASIPP), a physicians group dedicated to the promotion and development of Interventional Pain Management (IPM) techniques, is supporting federal law enforcement in the first-ever nationwide "Take-Back" initiative for prescription medications to be held on Saturday, September 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), working with local law enforcement, has set up collection sites in many local communities nationwide and is encouraging anyone with old or unwanted medications to dispose of them through this free, safe and anonymous program. While law enforcement is most interested in controlled substances, they will take any type of unused medications, no questions asked.

It is now well known that prescription-drug abuse is a growing epidemic. Many individuals who illegally abuse or experiment with prescription medications are given or sold them by family or friends.  These medications are often obtained simply by raiding the home medicine cabinet. Furthermore, many Americans do not know how to safely dispose of their medications and mistakenly flush them down the toilet, which can contaminate the water supply. Others throw them in the trash where they can be obtained by a drug abuser or someone who "diverts" the medication, selling it to a drug abuser for profit.

"ASIPP is urging all Americans to look through their medicine cabinets and dispose of any unneeded medications through this program," said Dr. David Kloth, national spokesperson, board member and past president for ASIPP. "Keeping old medications at home can be dangerous. Prescription controlled substances (pain killers and other sedatives) are now considered the new gateway drug for many young Americans, replacing marijuana in many cases which has traditionally held this role."

According to Michele M. Leonhart, acting administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration, "This effort symbolizes DEA's commitment to halting the disturbing rise in addiction caused by their misuse and abuse. Working together with our state and local partners, the medical community, anti-drug coalitions, and a concerned public, we will eliminate a major source of abused prescription drugs, and reduce the hazard they pose to our families and communities in a safe, legal and environmentally sound way."

To locate a collection site, visit the DEA Web site at www.dea.gov.

To find a qualified pain management physician in your area go to http://www.asippmembersite.org/Search/Search.php.

About The American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians

ASIPP's mission statement is to promote the development and practice of safe, high quality, cost-effective interventional pain management techniques for the diagnosis and treatment of pain and related disorders, and to ensure patient access to these interventions.  Founded in 1998 by Chairman of the Board and CEO Laxmaiah Manchikanti, MD, ASIPP is a rapidly growing not-for-profit organization that supports the access to interventional techniques and the needs of physicians who practice accountable Interventional Pain Management across the country.

Since its inception, the organization has had substantial impact on the practice of interventional pain management, resulting in an impressive list of major achievements.  In 2005, ASIPP succeeded in passing The National All Schedules Prescription Electronic Reporting Act (NASPER), which provides and improves patient access to quality care, and protects patients and physicians from the deleterious effects of controlled substance misuse, abuse and trafficking.  ASIPP is headquartered in Paducah, KY and currently has 4,500 members.  For more information, visit www.asipp.org or call 270.554.9412. Ext. 215

SOURCE The American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians