“Once someone’s dead they’re dead:” Drug Take Back Day set to happen on Saturday
MARYLAND – Law enforcement and health officials are working together to get drugs off the streets by safe disposal.
Places all over the country will be taking part on Saturday but here in Wicomico County, officials are urging you to come out locally to take part in the day.
“That’s the big push is harm reduction, and that’s important because once someone’s dead they’re dead, there’s nothing you can do about it,” says Cynthia Shifler, the ATOD Prevention Coordinator for the Wicomico Health Department.
Wicomico Health Department to host a drug take-back event to prevent overdoses and keep community members safe. The department will be accepting prescription drugs, drugs that law enforcement says are the root of the problem in some cases. “Prescription narcotics that continue to be a problem and most people that get addicted to opioids started with a prescription medication from a doctor,” says Worcester County Sheriff Matt Crisafulli.
Addiction can affect anyone, that is why officials want all community members to check their cabinets. “So that little kids can pick them up and get hurt or someone who’s drug using who might really need one who could pick it up and get some other disease. We want to keep people safe,” says Shifler. The opioid scurge particularly has hit all communities nationwide and that is the type of substance that doe snot discriminate,” says Sheriff Crisafulli.
In addition to prescription drugs, officials will be collecting syringes too. “To keep them safe, you know to make sure they have new needles, they’re not sharing the needles, so they don’t spread HIV, and other kinds of diseases, so it’s for their safety,” says Shifler.
Worcester County Sheriff Matt Crisafulli says they are mostly seeing heroin and fentanyl on the streets. However, Drug Take Back Day will help to keep the community safe, living a longer and healthier life. “The issue is that it’s off the street, that’s all that matters,” says Shifler.
