On Saturday, April 30th, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. local time, DEA and its community partners will hold the second National Prescription Drug Take Back Day at sites throughout the United States. This will be an opportunity for the public to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs for safe disposal. Long-term care facilities are also invited to participate in the National Take Back Day. The service is free and anonymous.
This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Prescription drugs are being misused and abused at alarming rates in the U.S -- more Americans currently abuse prescription drugs than the number of those using cocaine, hallucinogens, and heroin combined, according to the 2009 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. In addition, many Americans do not know how to properly dispose of their unused medicine, often flushing them down the toilet or throwing them away both potential safety and health hazards.
You can help make this Take Back Day a success by sharing information about the program with your colleagues, partner organizations, and others who are concerned about prescription drug abuse. You can find a nearby collection site by visiting www.GetSmartAboutDrugs.com , or www.justthinktwice.com and clicking on the "Got Drugs?" icon and following the links to a database, where you can enter your local zip code. This site will be continuously updated with new take-back locations.