U.S. Attorney Backs Prescription Drug Take Back Day in Kentucky

LEXINGTON, Ky. — With opioid pills still feeding addiction in homes across the Commonwealth, federal and local authorities are launching another assault on the domestic drug threat—not with raids or arrests, but with collection bins. On Saturday, April 27th, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the DEA and Lexington Police Department will host a National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, urging residents to surrender unused, expired, or unwanted prescription medications before they end up in the wrong hands.

Robert M. Duncan, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, announced his full support for the initiative, calling it a critical frontline defense against prescription pill abuse. “Far too often, the path to addiction starts with experimentation with legitimately prescribed prescription opioids found in the home,” Duncan stated. “By participating in Take Back Day and disposing of unused pills, you can help prevent a loved one from misusing or abusing prescription drugs.”

Residents can drop off pills or patches—no questions asked, no ID needed—at Kentucky American Water, located at 2300 Richmond Rd. in Lexington. Liquids, needles, and sharps will not be accepted. The event, anonymous and free of charge, marks the 17th such collection effort in the past nine years, part of a national strategy to cut off easy access to dangerous drugs lurking in bathroom cabinets.

D. Christopher Evans, Special Agent In Charge of DEA’s Louisville Field Division, emphasized the stakes: “At a time when prescription opioid pain relievers are killing more Americans than car accidents, the National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is an easy way we can all make sure that our unneeded, unused, or expired medications don’t end up in the wrong hands.”

The numbers tell a grim story. Prescription drug abuse rates remain sky-high, with the majority of abusers admitting they obtained pills for free from friends or family. In October 2023 alone, Americans surrendered 457 tons—over 914,000 pounds—of prescription drugs at more than 5,800 collection sites nationwide, a testament to the scale of the stored threat in homes across the country.

For more information on proper disposal or details about the April 27th event, visit www.DEATakeBack.com. This isn’t just cleanup duty—it’s harm reduction in real time, one pill bottle at a time.

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