15th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day Is Saturday
Nationwide event addresses vital public health and safety issue
SAN FRANCISCO - The Drug Enforcement Administration and its national, tribal, and community partners will hold the 15th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, April 28th. Since 2010 Northern California residents have turned in more than 413,000 (206 tons) of expired, unused and unwanted medications. The service is free and anonymous.
There will be more than 140 collection sites manned by almost 100 partner law enforcement agencies in Northern California, open at 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The public can find a nearby collection site at www.DEATakeBack.com or by calling 800-882-9539. (DEA cannot accept liquids, needles or sharps.)
“As the prescription drug epidemic continues to plague the nation we must be cognizant of the potential dangers that languish inside the home medicine cabinet. I urge everyone to take an inventory of medications on hand and get rid of unwanted prescription drugs. Everyone who participates in this event is making a difference,” stated Acting Special Agent in Charge Jerry A. Miller.
This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. 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. DEA launched its prescription drug take back program when both the Environmental Protection Agency and the Food and Drug Administration advised the public that flushing these drugs down the toilet or throwing them in the trash posed potential safety and health hazards.
The public has embraced the opportunity these Take Back Day events provide to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous prescription drugs. Last fall, Northern Californian’s turned in more than 15 (31,064 pounds) of medication.
