The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) will host its next National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, April 26. Held twice a year, this event provides a convenient and safe way to dispose of unwanted or expired prescription drugs. The initiative reflects the DEA’s mission to keep communities healthy and safe by preventing medication misuse and opioid abuse. The very first Drug Take Back Day was held back in September of 2010. It now occurs biannually, every April and October.
Why is it important?
Unused and poorly stored medications in the home can lead to dangerous situations for kids, teens and even pets. However, taking time to properly dispose of expired and unwanted prescription medications lowers the risk for drug misuse, keeping families safer. By participating, you can prevent drug abuse in your own community. You can also limit potential environmental harms, such as contamination that sometimes happens from flushing medications.
Wondering about the impact of the DEA’s program? Since its inception, the DEA has collected over 19 million pounds of medication, preventing these drugs from falling into the wrong hands.
How to participate
Would you like to take part? You can find a collection site locator online at dea.gov. If you haven’t cleaned out your medicine cabinet lately, this is a great opportunity to do so. Simply search by city or ZIP code to find the nearest location. Then, drop off your unneeded medications on April 26 between 10AM and 2PM. It’s completely free and anonymous to participate. You may also call the DEA’s Office of Diversion Control’s Registration Call Center at 1.800.882.9539 for authorized, year-round collection sites in your area. Please note, some items, such as inhalers, aerosol cans, syringes, mercury thermometers and illegal substances are generally not accepted.
For more information, visit www.dea.gov/takebackday.
This communication is intended for informational purposes and promotional purposes only and is not meant as medical advice. If you have questions about your medications, be sure to discuss these with your doctor or other health care provider.
