On Saturday, October 25, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will host its 29th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. The event will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at nearly 4,500 drop-off locations across the United States, including 18 sites in Oregon. The initiative is held in partnership with about 4,000 law enforcement agencies nationwide.
The goal of Take Back Day is to help Americans safely dispose of unneeded prescription medications such as tablets, capsules, patches, and other solid forms of drugs. This event has been running for sixteen years and aims to prevent drug misuse and abuse by removing old, unwanted, or expired medications from homes.
“Take Back Day provides a safe and anonymous way to properly dispose of expired or unused prescription medications,” said Scott E. Bradford, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. “Unused prescription medication in the home pose serious risks of misuse, addiction, and overdose. We encourage all community members to participate and help reduce the potential for abuse and addiction in our communities.”
David F. Reames, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Seattle Field Division, added: “All too often, drug abuse starts with prescription pills in the family medicine cabinet. DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day offers an easy way to rid your home of these unwanted and potentially dangerous medicines before they can harm your children or grandchildren. Drop off your unneeded medicine this Saturday and take a step to keep your family safe from drug harm.”
Since its inception, this program has collected more than 19.8 million pounds (10,000 tons) of medication through collaboration with local law enforcement partners.
Participants are advised that collection sites will not accept syringes, sharps, or illicit drugs. Liquid products like cough syrup should be kept sealed in their original containers with tightly closed caps to prevent leakage.
More information about collection sites is available at www.DEATakeBack.com.
