Northern California And Central Valley Resident Dispose Of More Than 7.5 Tons Of Medicine During DEA’s Third National Prescription Drug Take-Back Event
188.5 Tons Collected Nationwide
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - Anthony D. Williams, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration San Francisco Field Division, announced today that Northern California and Central Valley residents turned in 15,587 pounds of medicine - more than 7.5 tons - as part of the DEA Prescription Drug Take-Back Program. This nationwide event was held on Saturday, October 29, 2011, and provided area residents the ability to dispose of unused and expired medications. More than 377,086 (188.5 tons) of unwanted or expired medications were turned in for safe and proper disposal at the 5,327 take-back sites that were available in all 50 states and U.S. territories.
“Northern California and Central Valley residents have turned in approximately 55,612 (27.8 tons) of unwanted or expired medications for safe and proper disposal since DEA’s first prescription drug take-back event last September. The overwhelming response from the community has dramatically decreased the potential for diversion, misuse, or abuse of prescription drugs,” stated DEA Special Agent in Charge Anthony D. Williams. “We will continue to work with our state, local, and tribal law enforcement and community partners on take-back events until proper drug disposal regulations are in place.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, enough prescription painkillers were prescribed in 2010 to medicate every American adult around-the-clock for one month. Often, some of these medicines languish in the home and are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high-more Americans currently abuse prescription drugs than the number of those using cocaine, hallucinogens, heroin, and inhalants combined, according to the 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Studies show that the majority of teens who abuse prescription drugs obtain them from family and friends for free, including from the home medicine cabinet. Many Americans simply do not know how to properly dispose of their unused or expired medicine, often flushing it down the toilet or throwing it away. These methods can pose both safety and environmental hazards.
Four days after DEA’s first Take-Back Day event September 25, 2010, Congress passed legislation amending the Controlled Substances Act to allow the DEA to develop a permanent process for people to safely and conveniently dispose of their prescription drugs. After President Obama signed the Safe and Secure Drug Disposal Act of 2010 on October 12, DEA immediately began developing regulations for a more permanent solution.
The DEA’s Take-Back events are a significant piece of the White House’s prescription drug abuse prevention strategy entitled Epidemic: Responding to America’s Prescription Drug Abuse Crisis developed and promoted by the Office of National Drug Control Policy. Purging America’s home medicine cabinets of unwanted or expired medications is one of four action items outlined in the strategy for reducing prescription drug abuse and diversion. The other action items include education of health care providers, patients, parents and youth; establishing prescription drug monitoring programs in all the states; and increased enforcement to address “doctor shopping” and pill mills.
