Communities Are Taking Part in the Fight Against Opioid Abuse

 Posted on November 30, 2017 in Uncategorized

We frequently use this space to provide information about drug offenses, marijuana laws, and the consequences of violating state and federal drug laws. However, it is important to recognize the effects that illegal drugs have on people who use them. In recent years, law enforcement, with help from lawmakers and community activists, have stepped up efforts to remove opioids from the streets in an attempt to reduce overdose deaths.

Prescription Drug Collections

Several years ago, municipalities in the Will County area began offering their residents the opportunity to safely dispose of old, expired, and extra medications that cluttered their medicine cabinets. Prior to then, it was not uncommon for medications to end up in landfills or in the local water supply after being flushed down the toilet. The programs have grown to offer residents a number of locations for safely disposing of unused drugs, including:

• Within a 10-mile radius of Joliet, there are no fewer than 18 medication disposal locations.
• Drop boxes are available at as many as 15 municipal police stations in DuPage County.
• Begun in 2014, the City of Naperville hosts drop boxes at 10 fire stations.

The safe disposal program also aids in keeping drugs out of the hands of those who might steal them to get high. Documentation indicates that a number of individuals who begin using drugs such as heroin often begin by first becoming addicted to prescription painkillers.

A recent report indicated that more than 2,300 pounds of prescription and over-the-counter drugs were collected at Naperville’s 11 drop boxes during the past 12 months. During the first three months of 2017, they collected over 500 pounds of prescription drugs. Subsequent periods saw voluntary drop-offs of nearly 400 pounds of prescription drugs during the second quarter, and over 800 pounds from July through September. Law enforcement and healthcare professionals are hopeful that increased use of the voluntary drop boxes will help prevent prescription painkillers from falling into the wrong hands.

Get the Help of an Experienced Illinois Drug Possession Defense Lawyer

Even if this is your first offense, facing charges for possession, sale, or distribution of narcotics is a serious matter. Never try to handle these things on your own. Rely on a Will County drug crime defense attorney who can use years of experience as a drug prosecutor to build an aggressive and successful defense strategy. The Law Offices of Jack L. Zaremba, P.C. provides the knowledge and resources you need when facing serious drug charges. Contact our offices today at 815-740-4025 for a free consultation to discuss the details of your case.