Atlanta, GA -- (SBWIRE) -- 07/15/2015 -- According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2014, "46 people die from an overdose of prescription (Rx) painkillers in the United States, each day." Can you imagine getting the news that a friend or family member died from an Rx drug overdose? You can do something about this now! The Georgia Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention Initiative (GPDAPI) of The Council on Alcohol and Drugs, with guidance and funding provided by the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD), asks you to take two actions to address Rx drug abuse. First "lock up" your Rx drugs so only you can access and dispense them. Secondly, dispose of your unwanted, unneeded, or out of date, Rx drugs at any one of the almost 200 drug drop boxes in Georgia which are located in secure law enforcement facilities.

To find the drug drop box closest to you please visit http://www.stoprxabuseinga.org/prescription-drug-disposal.html

Both locking up your Rx drugs and disposing of your unwanted, unneeded, or out of date Rx drugs address the number 1 issue involved with Rx drug overdose, ACCESS.

By locking up your prescription drugs up and disposing of them in your county's or city's drug drop box we can greatly reduce unlawful access, protect our water supply, and help prevent toddlers, children and teens from accessing prescription pills. Please join us in removing such excess and often misused and abused drugs from our homes.

For more information and resources on prescription drug misuse and abuse please visit http://www.StopRxAbuseInGA.org which includes links to downloadable resources such as a PowerPoint on Rx drug misuse and abuse, "PACT360," a power-packed Parent Toolkit from The Partnership at Drugfree.org, as well as other resources for youth and parents.

The Council on Alcohol and Drugs is working with a wide range of organizations such as the Medical Association of Georgia Foundation, the Georgia Family Connection Partnership, the Georgia Sheriffs Association, various state and federal law enforcement agencies, public and private schools, civic groups, and social organizations to prevent prescription drug overdoses in Georgia.

For additional information or questions concerning our Rx Initiative, please contact John Bringuel, MA, ICPS, at 404-223-2484 or email Mr. Bringuel at jbringuel@livedrugfree.org

Contact:
John Bringuel, MA, ICPS
Statewide Project Director
Georgia Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention Initiative
The Council on Alcohol and Drugs
404-223-2484
jbringuel@livedrugfree.org