Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network support the Drug Enforcement Administration's National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day

DETROIT, April 23, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network continue to support the Drug Enforcement Administration's National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day – the first of two this year – being held on Saturday, April 27, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Michigan residents will be encouraged to drop off unwanted prescription medicine at designated locations around the state.  

"Each Take-Back Day serves as a platform to talk about the dangers of prescription drug abuse, and that many who abuse these drugs get them from a home medicine cabinet," said James Lang, Pharm.D., vice president of Pharmacy Services, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. "Through National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, we have the power to directly affect the risk of prescription drug abuse in a positive way, one medicine cabinet at a time."

Since 2010, National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day has generated more than 2 million pounds (1,018 tons) of prescription drugs for safe disposal. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than three out of four people who misuse prescription painkillers use drugs prescribed to someone else. In 2010, about 12 million Americans (age 12 or older) reported nonmedical use of prescription painkillers in the past year.

To learn more about National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day and find a collection site near you, visit the Drug Enforcement Administration website.

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Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network are nonprofit corporations and independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. For more company information, visit bcbsm.com or MiBCN.com.

SOURCE Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan