DEA, Partners Hold Prescription Drug Take Back Day, Ohio 2024

DEA Collects 11 Million Pounds of Prescription Drugs in 9 Years

Ohio residents are being called upon to dispose of unwanted prescription medications on Saturday, April 27, as the DEA and its partners hold the 17th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. With over 5,400 tons of medication collected in the past 16 events, the initiative continues to remove opioids and other medicines from the nation’s homes, where they are vulnerable to misuse, theft, or abuse by family members and visitors.

According to the DEA, nearly 11 million pounds of expired, unused, and unwanted prescription medications have been collected through the Take Back Day events. This weekend, approximately 6,000 collection sites manned by nearly 5,000 partner law enforcement agencies will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. local time. The public can find a nearby collection site at www.DEATakeBack.com or by calling 800-882-9539.

However, the DEA cannot accept liquids, needles, or sharps at the collection sites.

The National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is a unique opportunity for Americans to protect their homes and medicine cabinets from theft and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the United States continue to be alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs.

In Ohio specifically, U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman echoed the sentiments of the DEA, stating, "We know of many cases where leftover pain pills have led to an opioid addiction. Properly disposing of these pills is one important step anyone can take to get involved in turning the tide on the opioid epidemic that has caused so much pain here in Ohio."

The DEA’s Acting Administrator, Uttam Dhillon, also emphasized the importance of the Take Back Day, saying, "Addiction causes a tremendous amount of pain and suffering, not just for those addicted to drugs, but also for their families and friends. Helping people keep their loved ones safe by disposing of unwanted, unused, and expired prescription medications is just one of many ways that DEA is working to break the cycle of addiction and overdose deaths plaguing this country."

Last October, the public turned in 457 tons of prescription drugs at more than 5,800 sites operated by the DEA and nearly 4,800 of its local and tribal partners.

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