DEA’S Prescription Drug Take-Back Efforts Sees A New High
ST. LOUIS - - James Shroba, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, announced that on its 10th National Drug Take-Bake Day, DEA and its local partners collected 22,321 pounds of unused prescription drugs in the St. Louis metropolitan and southern Illinois area.
Further, the nationwide event, with more than 3,800 federal, state and local counterparts took in more than 702,365 pounds of unused, expired or unwanted drugs at more than 5,000 collection sites across the United States. This was the 10th NTBI event since September 2010; cumulatively, these events have collected 5,525,021 pounds of drugs.
“The NTBI allows for the public to strengthen the community and make homes safe by participating,” said Special Agent in Charge Shroba. “This is a great way for law enforcement and the community to work together on fighting the prescription drug abuse epidemic.”
The NTBI addresses a crucial public safety and public health issue. According to the 2014 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 6.5 million Americans abused controlled prescription drugs. That same study showed that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. The DEA’s NTBI events are also a significant piece of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy’s prescription drug abuse prevention strategy.
In his Weekly Address, President Obama spoke about the importance of preventing and treating substance use disorders and called on Americans to participate in National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day.
