National Coalition Holds Prescription Drug Take-back Day in Palm Springs Ahead of Pain Medicine Scientific Meeting

C.A.R.E.S. Alliance℠invites area residents to drop off unwanted pain medication at six locations

PALM SPRINGS, Calif., Feb. 18, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A national coalition dedicated to fighting abuse and misuse of prescription pain medication is inviting area residents to safely dispose of unwanted and expired medicines at any of six local pharmacies today.  

Sponsored by the Collaborating and Acting Responsibly to Ensure Safety (C.A.R.E.S.) Alliance(SM), the event comes as pain medicine providers prepare to convene here February 23-26 for the American Academy of Pain Medicine's annual meeting.

Statistics from the California Department of Health show that the number of emergency room visits in Riverside County related to prescription painkillers jumped by more than 50 percent from 2006 to 2009, illustrating one way the national crisis of abuse and misuse of prescription medication has manifested itself locally.

"Hundreds of people in our community have been affected by prescription drug abuse and misuse, and this event allows local residents to be part of the solution," said Sergeant Mike Kovaleff, Palm Springs Police Department. "Disposing of unused or unwanted medications in a safe and secure environment is a critical step in fighting this devastating public health problem."

The event is supported by the Palm Springs Police Department and is sponsored by the C.A.R.E.S. Alliance. The C.A.R.E.S. Alliance is a national coalition of 10 patient safety, provider and drug diversion organizations focused on reducing prescription medication abuse, misuse and diversion and on encouraging responsible prescribing habits. C.A.R.E.S. Alliance members supporting the take-back day include the National Association of Drug Diversion Investigators (NADDI), Project Lazarus and Covidien, a pharmaceutical manufacturer. The event is also being held in cooperation with the American Academy of Pain Medicine.

"Combating abuse and misuse of prescription drugs is everyone's responsibility, as a matter of public safety," said C.A.R.E.S. Alliance representative Sherice Mills, Manager, Medical Affairs, Pharmaceuticals for Covidien, which created the coalition. "A successful long-term solution can be found, but it requires collaboration to provide education for consumers and better resources for prescribers and pharmacists."

On the C.A.R.E.S. Alliance's website (www.caresalliance.org), physicians and pharmacists can find tools for prescribing, screening and assessing patients. Patients and their families can also find tips for the safe use and handling of their medications.

According to Charlie Cichon, Executive Director of NADDI, involvement from many different organizations and individuals is needed to address this complex issue. "We believe that collaboration through this and other initiatives will further the nation's progress against the illegal diversion of legitimate prescription medicines, which many people do use appropriately," he said.

Pharmacies throughout the area are participating in the Drug Take-back Day and will be accepting both unused and expired pills. No sharps, liquids or gels will be accepted. A full list of drop-off locations is available at www.caresalliance.org.

About the C.A.R.E.S. Alliance

Launched in September 2010, the C.A.R.E.S. Alliance is a coalition of 10 national patient safety, provider and drug diversion organizations focused on reducing opioid pain medication abuse and increasing responsible prescribing habits. The C.A.R.E.S. Alliance was created by Covidien, a pharmaceutical manufacturer, to ensure the safe use of all medications by collaboratively developing and sharing tools and resources for all stakeholders.  

About NADDI

The National Association of Drug Diversion Investigators (NADDI) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that facilitates cooperation between law enforcement, health care professionals, state regulatory agencies and pharmaceutical manufacturers in investigating and preventing prescription drug abuse and diversion. NADDI also sponsors and conducts specialized educational seminars and conferences.

About Project Lazarus

Project Lazarus is the secular public health component of a nonprofit organization that was established in 2006 in response to extremely high unintentional drug poisoning death ("overdose") rates in Wilkes County, N.C. (four times higher than the state's overall rate). Using experience, data and compassion, Project Lazarus empowers communities and individuals to prevent drug overdoses and meet the needs of those living with chronic pain. Project Lazarus enables overdose prevention by providing technical assistance to create and maintain community coalitions. It also helps harness existing public health data and empowers community groups to create locally tailored drug overdose prevention programs by connecting them to state and national resources.

About the American Academy of Pain Medicine

The American Academy of Pain Medicine is the premiere association for 2,400 pain physicians and their treatment teams. Now in its 28th year of service, the Academy's mission is to optimize the health of patients in pain and eliminate it as a major public health problem by advancing the science and the practice of pain medicine. More information is available at www.painmed.org.

About the Palm Springs Police Department

The members of the Palm Springs Police Department proudly serve the City of Palm Springs and are dedicated to working together to prevent crime and solve neighborhood problems through community policing. Community policing is at the heart of the City's official approach to public safety, and the Department goes beyond traditional policing to build a cooperative and mutually beneficial relationship between the police and the community.

SOURCE C.A.R.E.S. Alliance