United States Drug Enforcement Administration

OMAHA, Neb. – The Drug Enforcement Administration is partnering with federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies for the 20th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, Saturday, April 24, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.  Iowa has 95 Take Back sites available across the state, with an additional six sites available on the Illinois border, where people can anonymously drop off their unused, unwanted and expired prescription medications, free of charge.

DEA collected a record-high 493 tons of prescription medications during the last Take Back Day in October, with Iowa residents accounting for approximately 6 tons. Throughout the 10-year span of Take Back Day, people in Iowa have discarded nearly 78 tons of medications, while nationally, Americans have contributed more than 6,800 tons of prescription drugs.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. has seen an increase in overdose deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic, with nearly 86,000 Americans overdosing during the 12-month period ending August 2020, the most ever recorded in a 12-month span. Studies indicate that a majority of abused prescription drugs come from family and friends, sometimes taken from home medicine cabinets.  With that in mind, clearing out unused medicine and disposing of it properly is essential.

The public can drop off unused, unwanted or expired prescription medications at collection sites which will adhere to local COVID-19 guidelines and regulations in order to maintain the safety of all participants and local law enforcement.

DEA and its partners will collect tablets, capsules, patches and other solid forms of prescription drugs. Liquids (including intravenous solutions), syringes and other sharps, and illegal drugs will not be accepted. DEA will continue to accept vaping devices and cartridges at its drop off locations provided lithium batteries are removed. The DEA is encouraging people to use the hashtag #TakeBackDay to help spread awareness of the event through social media.

Helping people dispose of potentially harmful prescription drugs is just one way DEA is working to reduce addiction and stem overdose deaths.

Learn more about Take Back Day or locate a collection site near you at www.deatakeback.com, or by calling 800-882-9539. New collection sites will be added between now and April 24.