United States Drug Enforcement Administration

NASHVILLE - With public participation at an all-time high after four prior events in two years, on Saturday, September 29, 2012 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Tennesseans will be able to drop off their expired, unused, and unwanted pills at sites across the state, free of charge, no questions asked. By doing so, they will help prevent drug abuse and theft. This one-day event will make it convenient for the public to rid their homes of potentially dangerous prescription drugs. This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse.

Americans participating in DEA’s four previous Take-Back Days turned in nearly 1.6 million pounds-almost 774 tons-of prescription drugs, most recently at almost 5,700 sites operated by nearly 4,300 of the DEA’s s local law enforcement partners. DEA’s last event collected more than double the pills as their first event two years ago, with almost 50% more participating agencies and sites this past April than in September of 2010.

Harry S. Sommers, the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division said, “Prescription drug abuse, especially among our youth, continues to be a major concern in America. Many users of street drugs like heroin start with prescription drug abuse. As such, please come out on Saturday, October 29, 2012 from 10 am to 2 pm and turn in your unneeded, unwanted and unused prescription drugs so that DEA can properly dispose of them. I encourage you to do your part to help stem the tide of prescription drug abuse.”

The public can find a nearby collection site by visiting www.dea.gov, clicking on the “Got Drugs?” icon, and following the links to a database, where they enter their zip code. Law enforcement agencies interested in operating one or more collection sites on April 28 can register with the DEA by clicking on the above-cited “Got Drugs?” icon and calling the DEA POC for their state, which can be under the link for law enforcement.

Four days after last fall’s event, Congress passed the Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal Act of 2010, which amends the Controlled Substances Act to allow an “ultimate user” of controlled substance medications to dispose of them by delivering them to entities authorized by the Attorney General to accept them. The Act also allows the Attorney General to authorize long term care facilities to dispose of their residents’ controlled substances in certain instances. DEA is in the process of drafting regulations to implement the Act.