Q&A on the News
Q: The Drug Enforcement Administration is heading the first-ever nationwide prescription drug take-back day on Sept. 25. Do they plan on destroying the medications in an environmentally safe manner?
—Jill Klotz, Douglasville
A: Yes, the expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs collected that day will be incinerated , Chuvalo J. Truesdell, a DEA spokesman, told Q&A on the News. He said the DEA will follow guidelines set by the Environmental Protection Agency for the incineration process to ensure that they are destroyed in an environmentally safe manner. The nationwide prescription drug take-back initiative seeks to prevent increased pill abuse and theft. Sites throughout metro Atlanta and Georgia will be collecting the drugs from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Sept. 25. Visit www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/takeback to search for a list of collection sites.
Q: Who and why are they installing so many cameras on the Delk Road bridge over Interstate 75 in Cobb County? Looks like one camera for each lane.
—Dennis Fournier, Marietta
A: The Georgia Department of Transportation is using the cameras only for collecting traffic-count data for the corridor to supplement other data. They are not being used for any sort of enforcement and will be removed once the data is collected, Mark D. McKinnon, a DOT spokesman, told Q&A on the News.
Lori Johnston wrote this column. Do you have a question about the news? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or e-mail q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
