Every parent wants to think his child is perfect, but some youth struggle with drug abuse, sometimes unknown to their parents, said Andrica Wilcoxen, Kansas City Kansas Community College prevention coordinator.
That’s why she’s trying to reach parents who are ages 30 to 40 years old with the message to clean out old medications in their cabinets and take them to Prescription Drug Takeback Day dropoff points.
The eighth annual Prescription Drug Takeback Day is Saturday, April 26, at locations throughout Kansas City, Kan., and the state of Kansas.
Wilcoxen said if a parent never looks into the cabinet to inventory leftover medications, it allows youths to go in there, and take one pill at a time. Some of this old medication could end up at a party at a friend’s house, where youth may be taking unknown drugs, she said.
“These kids are dying because of it,” Wilcoxen said.
Since the KCKCC prevention program got involved with Prescription Drug Takeback Day, participation has increased greatly, she said.
Senior citizens are really good about participating in the program, and now it’s the younger families that she would like to reach with the message that their kids are at risk, she said.
The Prescription Drug Takeback Day has the cooperation of area and state law enforcement, and also has several local sponsors.
In the Kansas Senate, Sen. David Haley of Kansas City, Kan., has sponsored a resolution supporting Prescription Drug Takeback Day, recognizing the misuse and abuse of prescription drugs and urging residents to participate in Prescription Drug Takeback Day.
Dropoff sites are open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 26 for safe disposal of unused or expired medications. There is no charge and no questions are asked.
Locations of the dropoff sites in Wyandotte County:
DeGoler Pharmacy, four locations, 5701 State Ave., 21 N. 12th St. and 2040 Hutton Road, Kansas City, Kan.; and 202 Oak St., Bonner Springs.
Price Chopper, 501 Commercial Drive, Bonner Springs.
Hen House, 8120 Parallel Parkway, Kansas City, Kan.
Walgreens, 2850 State Ave., and 7739 State Ave., Kansas City, Kan.
Bond Pharmacy, 3017 Strong Ave., Kansas City, Kan.
CVS Pharmacy, 4645 Shawnee, and 4300 Rainbow Blvd., Kansas City, Kan.