Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day

NATIONAL TAKE-BACK INITIATIVE

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April 28, 2012
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has scheduled another National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day which will take place on Saturday, April 28, 2012, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.  This is a great opportunity for those who missed the previous events, or who have subsequently accumulated unwanted, unused prescription drugs, to safely dispose of those medications.

Americans that participated in the DEA’s third National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on October 29, 2011, turned in more than 377,086 pounds (188.5 tons) of unwanted or expired medications for safe and proper disposal at the 5,327 take-back sites that were available in all 50 states and U.S. territories. When the results of the three prior Take-Back Days are combined, the DEA, and its state, local, and tribal law-enforcement and community partners have removed 995,185 pounds (498.5 tons) of medication from circulation in the past 13 months.

“The amount of prescription drugs turned in by the American public during the past three Take-Back Day events speaks volumes about the need to develop a convenient way to rid homes of unwanted or expired prescription drugs,” said DEA Administrator Michele M. Leonhart. “DEA remains hard at work to establish just such a drug disposal process, and will continue to offer take-back opportunities until the proper regulations are in place.”

“With the continued support and hard work of our more than 3,945 state, local, and tribal law enforcement and community partners, these three events have dramatically reduced the risk of prescription drug diversion and abuse, and increased awareness of this critical public health issue,” said Leonhart.

Collection Site Locator:Find a collection site near you. Check back frequently as collection sites are continuously being added.

Law Enforcement Agencies Only:For law enforcement agencies that wish to host a collection site please call the POC in your area.

Take-Back Day Partnership Toolbox:Here you will find a list of files that you can download to use for your own purposes.

General Public Inquiries:
Inquiries can be made at 1-800-882-9539.

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Pharmaceuticals in the Environment NATIONAL DRUG TAKE BACK PROGRAM - Get Rid of Prescriptions the Correct Way - Protect the Watershed

Please be aware that the federal DEA is conducting a NATIONAL DRUG TAKE BACK PROGRAM on September 25, 2010 with widespread participation by many law enforcement groups across the country and in Pennsylvania. This effort will help keep meds from being flushed into water resources. The program is an anonymous take back. To find a take back location in your area, go to this website and enter your zipcode:
http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/takeback/


Drug take back programs are very expensive to conduct, so please let your neighbors and family members know about this one day national event.  Saturday, September 25, 2010.


On September 25, 2010, DEA will coordinate a collaborative effort with state and local law enforcement agencies to remove potentially dangerous controlled substances from our nation’s medicine cabinets. Collection activities will take place from 10:00 a.m. through 2:00 p.m. at sites established throughout the country. The National Take-Back Day provides an opportunity for the public to surrender expired, unwanted, or unused pharmaceutical controlled substances and other medications for destruction. These drugs are a potential source of supply for illegal use and an unacceptable risk to public health and safety. This one-day effort is intended to bring national focus to the issue of increasing pharmaceutical controlled substance abuse. The program is anonymous.


Prescription and over the counter solid dosage medications, i.e. tablets and capsules accepted. Intra-venous solutions, injectables, and needles will not be accepted. Illicit substances such as marijuana or methamphetamine are not a part of this initiative.


If you miss this event- this is the proper procedure to dispose of prescription drugs:
 
Source: http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/publications/pdf/prescrip_disposal.pdf


1.Do not flush prescription drugs down the toilet or drain unless the label or
accompanying patient information specifically instucts you to do so.  For information on drugs
that should be flushed visit the FDA’s website- http://www.fda.gov/


2. To dispose of prescription drugs not labeled to be flushed, you may be able
to take advantage of community drug take back programs or other programs,
such as household hazardous waste collection events,  that collect drugs at a central location for proper disposal.


3.Call your city or county government’s household trash and recycling service
and ask if a drug take‐back program is available in your community.


If a drug take‐back or collection program is not available:


A.Take your prescription drugs out of their original containers.

B.Mix drugs with an undesirable substance, such as cat litter or used coffee grounds.

C.Put the mixture into a disposable container with a lid, such as an empty
margarine tub, or into a sealable bag.

D.Conceal or remove any personal information, including Rx number, on the
empty containers by covering it with black permanent marker or duct tape, or
by scratching it off.
E.Place the sealed container with the mixture, and the empty drug containers, in the trash.


 How to Dispose