As the opioid epidemic continues to ravage communities across the United States, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is cracking down on prescription pill abuse with its 26th annual National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.
On Saturday, April 27th, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the DEA will provide the public with a safe and anonymous way to dispose of unwanted, expired, and unused prescription medications. This free service is available at designated drop-off locations across the country, including in Tennessee.
Last year’s event saw Americans turn in nearly 600,000 pounds of prescription drugs at over 4,675 sites operated by the DEA and its state and local law enforcement partners. This year, the DEA is taking it a step further by accepting vaping devices and cartridges at all drop-off locations, with the exception of devices containing lithium-ion batteries.
The DEA’s “Take Back” day and “Get Smart About Drugs” initiatives aim to address the alarming rates of prescription drug abuse, misuse, and abuse in the United States. According to the DEA, medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse, leading to a staggering number of accidental poisonings and overdoses.
The rise of synthetic opioids, such as illicit fentanyl, has been identified as the primary driver of the increase in overdose deaths. In an effort to combat this public health crisis, the DEA is committed to helping safely dispose of vaping devices and substances, particularly among America’s youth.
Residents of Tennessee can find more information on the DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, including location information and guidelines for accepted items, by visiting https://www.dea.gov/takeback or by calling 800-882-9539.
For those who cannot make it to a designated drop-off location on April 27th, the DEA has a year-round collection site locator available on its website, which lists over 11,000 authorized collectors across the country. Additionally, the FDA provides information on how to properly dispose of prescription drugs, available in both English and Spanish.
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Key Facts
- State: Tennessee
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|Public Corruption
- Source: Official Source ↗
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