Together with Google and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), we are encouraging families and individuals to participate in National Prescription Drug Take Back Day this Saturday, April 28. Take Back Day offers consumers an opportunity to take simple, effective steps to help curb the country’s crisis by disposing of excess, unwanted and expired prescription medicine.
This 15th annual event takes place as the country is facing a public health emergency. We are losing 174 individuals a day to overdose, and 115 to opioid overdose alone.
“Never has it been more important that all Americans – corporations, communities and individuals – do our part, and thanks to Google, never has it been easier to learn how to participate, get involved or learn how to get help for a loved one,” said Fred Muench, President and CEO of the Partnership for-Drug Free Kids.
Google is making it easier for people to find nearby Take Back events using Google Maps technology. On Wednesday, April 25, a direct link on Google’s home page will link over to where individuals can find a Take Back location near them and learn more about the Partnership’s science-based resources, including our Parent Helpline, where families can reach out and get help for a loved one who may be struggling with substances.
Google’s support of families doesn’t end with Take Back Day. Today, they announced a matching gift grant where they will match dollar-for-dollar every donation made to the Partnership from now until June 9. This match will significantly help us ensure that our Parent Helpline and free family support services can operate at capacity and reach every family in need of help.
“More and more families are turning to us for help, but because of the severity of the epidemic, we are deluged with calls to our Helpline,” continued Muench. “We need support and dollars to meet the demand so we can help all of the families who reach out, panicked that their child will be the next statistic. We are thankful to Google for their long-standing commitment to ensure that families searching for answers to help a loved one with a substance use disorder find reliable information and guidance at the Partnership.”
Published
April 2018