DEA Targets Opioid Crisis with Prescription Take Back Day

The opioid epidemic is bleeding through America’s neighborhoods, and law enforcement is fighting back one pill bottle at a time. This Saturday, October 22, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will host its National Prescription Drug Take Back Day across New England, targeting the silent menace of unused prescription drugs sitting in home medicine cabinets. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 566 collection sites — most housed in local police station lobbies — will accept expired, unused, and unwanted medications, no questions asked.

These drugs are not harmless relics. They’re potential triggers for addiction, theft, and overdose. According to the 2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 6.4 million Americans age 12 and over — 2.4 percent of the population — abuse prescription drugs, outpacing the combined misuse of cocaine, heroin, hallucinogens, and methamphetamine. Drug overdoses now kill more Americans than car crashes or gun violence, and the pipeline often starts with a bottle pulled from a relative’s cabinet.

“The diversion of prescription pain killers contribute to the widespread abuse of opiates, is the gateway to heroin addiction, and is devastating our communities,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Ferguson. He stressed that unsecured medications are low-hanging fruit for addicts and dealers alike, fueling a cycle of abuse that rips families apart. The message is blunt: clean out your cabinets or risk becoming an unwitting supplier.

Vermont’s United States Attorney, Eric Miller, tied the crisis directly to the state’s heroin epidemic. “The misuse and abuse of prescription opioids touched off Vermont’s current heroin epidemic and continues to contribute to overdose deaths and injuries,” Miller said. He urged Vermonters to take responsibility, calling safe drug disposal a civic duty in the battle for public health and safety.

Last April, during the 11th Take Back Day, the DEA New England Field Division collected 86,918.1 pounds of prescription drugs in just four hours. Maine led the region with 31,960 pounds, followed by Massachusetts at 25,028 pounds and Vermont with 5,094.60 pounds. These numbers aren’t just statistics — they represent tens of thousands of doses that didn’t end up on the street, in a teen’s backpack, or in a fatal overdose.

Residents can find their nearest drop-off site by visiting www.dea.gov, clicking the “Got Drugs?” icon, and entering their zip code — or by calling 800-882-9529. Only pills, patches, and solid forms are accepted; liquids and sharps are excluded. The DEA’s message is clear: if it’s not being used, it’s a danger. Take it out. Take it back. Before it kills.

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