Arizona law enforcement officials begin prescription drug take-back program

Prescription drug abuse remains a problem for many states in the U.S. Recent federal studies have found that certain areas of the country suffer more than others, such as the New England and Mid-Atlantic regions. Likewise, the state of Florida continues to struggle with fraudulent medical facilities called "pill mills" that carelessly prescribe medication to patients.

In an effort to combat prescription drug abuse, law enforcement officials from Graham County, Arizona announced that they will offer a drug take-back program, the Eastern Arizona Courier reports.

Recent in-state surveys show that Graham County has the highest rate of prescription medication abuse in Arizona. Law enforcement officials told the news source that family medicine cabinets could be the main source for teens to obtain these drugs.

Furthermore, the program is designed to help prevent prescription drugs from reaching the hands of those who have no other use than to abuse them. Officials added that if medications are not properly disposed of they can dissolve into the ground water and might contaminate the county's water supply.

According to the 2007 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, among individuals age 12 and older who abuse prescription medication, nearly 57 percent reported obtaining the drug form someone they knew.