The 10th National Prescription Drug Take-Back is set for Saturday, Sept. 26th from 10 am-2 pm. As with the previous nine Take-Back events, sites will be set up throughout communities nationwide to provide local residents with secure drop-off sites to return their unwanted, unneeded, or expired prescription drugs for safe disposal.
Collection sites in every local community can be found by going to the DEA’s website. Beginning Sept. 1, this site will be continuously updated with new take-back locations. National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Many Americans are not aware that medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are at alarming rates, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that many abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, many Americans do not know how to properly dispose of their unused medicine, often flushing them down the toilet or throwing them away – both potential safety and health hazards.
In the previous nine Take-Back events from 2010-2014, consumers nationwide have safely disposed of 4,823,251 pounds, or 2,411 tons of unwanted medication.
For more information visit:
www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback/
