DEA’s Take Back Day Targets Prescription Drug Epidemic

BUFFALO, NY – The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is stepping up its fight against the prescription drug epidemic with the 12th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, scheduled for Saturday, October 22nd. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., citizens can dispose of their unused and unwanted medications at one of the 4,700 collection sites nationwide, ensuring that these drugs don’t fall into the wrong hands.

With an epidemic of addiction, overdose, and death due to prescription drug abuse plaguing America, the DEA’s initiative is more critical than ever. The 2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health revealed that over 6.4 million Americans age 12 and over abuse prescription drugs, a number that surpasses the combined totals for cocaine, heroin, hallucinogens, and methamphetamine.

Drug overdoses have become the leading cause of injury-related death in the U.S., outpacing motor vehicle crashes or firearms. A concerning majority of prescription drug abusers report obtaining their drugs from friends and family, including from home medicine cabinets.

In a significant show of community cooperation, the DEA’s 11th Take Back Day last April resulted in the collection of 893,498 pounds (about 447 tons) of unwanted prescription drugs at nearly 5,400 sites. Since the program began six years ago, over 6.4 million pounds (approximately 3,200 tons) have been collected.

However, only pills and other solid items like patches can be dropped off at collection sites—liquids, needles, or other sharps are not accepted. For more information, visit DEA.gov.

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