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DEA Collects 14 Tons Of Unused Rx Drugs In Florida

MIAMI (CBSMiami/AP) — More than 14 tons of unused or expired prescription drugs were collectedby the The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration during a recent drug take-back day in Florida.

The DEA and other agencies collected the drugs at 124 sites across Florida on April 27. It was the sixth such take-back day in Florida and around the country. The goal is to get people to discard unused drugs that might be prone to abuse or may no longer be effective.

Authorities say 70 percent of people abusing prescription drugs get them from friends and relatives.

Nationally the April 27 event collected 50 percent more prescription drugs than the one held most recently. In total, about 371 tons of drugs were collected, for a total in all six take-back days of 1,409 tons of drugs.

(TM and © Copyright 2013 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2013 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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