DEA’s 10th National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day Is This Saturday
DENVER - This Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. local time, come to one of the almost 5,000 collection sites around the nation to return all unwanted, unneeded, or expired prescription drugs for safe and anonymous disposal. This is the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’(DEA) 10th National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day in the past five years. Collection sites in every local community, manned by DEA and its local law enforcement and community partners, can be found by going to www.dea.gov - or calling 800-882-9539. All states in the DEA’s Denver Field Division - Colorado, Utah, Wyoming and Montana - will be participating this Saturday.
The National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day addresses vital public safety and health issues. Many Americans are not aware that medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that many abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, many Americans do not know how to properly dispose of their unused medications, often flushing them down the toilet or throwing them away - posing safety and environmental hazards.
“Help make your homes and our communities safer places by taking part and disposing of your unused prescription drugs.” stated Barbra Roach, Special Agent in Charge of DEA’s Denver Field Division. “Americans are abusing prescription drugs in record numbers, and seven of the ten most abused drugs by teenagers are prescription medications. Please don’t be an unknowing source.”
In the previous nine Take-Back events nationwide from 2010-2014, 4,823,251 pounds, or 2,411 tons of drugs were collected.
