BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – United States Attorney Prim F. Escalona is sounding the alarm on the dangers of prescription drug abuse, as the DEA prepares for its 21st National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, October 23rd from 10am to 2pm.
According to a report published by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), a majority of people who misused a prescription medication obtained the medicine from a family member or friend. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that last year, more than 93,000 people died of drug overdoses in the United States, marking the largest number of drug-related deaths ever recorded in a year. Opioid-related deaths accounted for 75 percent of all overdose deaths in 2020.
For more than a decade, DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day has helped Americans easily rid their homes of unneeded medications—those that are old, unwanted, or no longer needed—that too often become a gateway to addiction. Working in close partnership with local law enforcement, Take Back Day has removed more than 7,000 tons of medication from circulation since its inception. These efforts are directly in line with DEA’s priority to combat the rise of overdoses plaguing the United States.
“Removing unused prescription drugs from our homes prevents pills from making it into the wrong hands, possibly leading to more drug abuse and addiction,” said U.S. Attorney Escalona. “DEA’s National Drug Take Back Day is an excellent opportunity to properly dispose of unused prescription medications and raise awareness to the dangers of prescription drug abuse and addiction.”>
This past year marks the largest number ever recorded of drug-related deaths in a single 12-month period, with more than 93,000 deaths. On average, that’s more than 250 people dying a day of a drug overdose in the United States. This drug overdose crisis is a clear and present public health and safety threat to our nation,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brad L. Byerley. “DEA’s Take-Back initiative provides another way to address this epidemic and a safe way for our citizens to dispose of their unwanted prescription drugs, reducing the danger they pose to our youth and to our communities.”>
DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is more important than ever before. Last month, DEA issued a Public Safety Alert and launched the One Pill Can Kill public awareness campaign to warn Americans of a surge in deadly, fake prescription pills driven by drug traffickers seeking to exploit the U.S. opioid epidemic and prescription pill misuse.
The public is encouraged to bring their unused prescription medications to a collection site near them on October 23rd. For more information, visit the DEA’s website at www.dea.gov.
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Key Facts
- State: Alabama
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Public Corruption
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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