National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is a safe, convenient, and responsible way to dispose of unused or expired prescription drugs at locations in communities throughout the country.
The National Take Back Initiative is a voluntary program encouraging the public to return excess or expired drugs. The take back events occur twice annually, in the spring and in the fall. The program is coordinated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Just last spring alone, in April 2023 “Take Back Day” brought in nearly 800,000 lbs. of medication at over 5,000 sites nationwide.
What is Take Back Day
Drug take-back programs are a common and environmentally supportive method for avoiding the improper disposal of unused pharmaceuticals. One of the primary goals of National Drug Take Back Day is to educate people about the dangers of prescription drug abuse, as many people are not aware of the risks associated with taking prescription medications that have not been prescribed to them, or of the potential for addiction and overdose. By raising awareness of these issues, the event seeks to help people make informed decisions about their medication use and to encourage them to seek help if they are struggling with addiction.
Another important aspect of National Drug Take Back Day is the safe disposal of medications and the proper way to dispose of medications – never just flushing then down the toilet or thrown in the trash, where they can end up in the water supply or be accessed by children or pets. The event provides a safe and convenient way for people to dispose of their medications, by allowing them to drop them off at designated locations in their communities.
Prescriptions In Circulation
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, enough pharmaceuticals are prescribed to medicate every American adult around-the-clock for one month. Some of these prescriptions and over the counter drugs decay in the home and are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse.
Abuse
Most people who misuse prescription drugs get them from family, friends, and acquaintances. You can make a difference by keeping track of the medicine you have, by rethinking where and how you keep your medications in your home (locked up if you have teens in the house), and by safely disposing of any unused medications. Studies show that the majority of teens who abuse prescription drugs obtain them from family or friends for free, including from the home medicine cabinet.
Dropoff Locations
Local Police and Sheriff locations in our area participate in the program and provide safe and secure collection bins for easy drop off. Some additional facilities and businesses are registered with the U.S. DEA to also collect unused or expired medicines. To find an authorized drug collection site near you, call the DEA Diversion Control Division Registration Call Center at 1-800-882-9539, or visit Dropoff Locations.
