DEA Announces 10th National Prescription Drug Take-Back
NEWARK, N.J. - - DEA Acting Administrator Chuck Rosenberg today announced that the 10th National Prescription Drug Take-Back will take place September 26th from 10 am-2 pm. As with the previous nine Take-Back events, sites will be set up throughout communities nationwide so local residents can return their unused, unwanted, or expired prescription drugs for safe disposal.
Collection sites in local communities can be found by going to www.dea.gov beginning on September 1. This site will be continuously updated with new take-back locations.
The National Prescription Drug Take-Back addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. “Prescription drug abuse is a huge problem and this is a great opportunity for folks around the country to help reduce the threat,” Rosenberg said. "Please clean out your medicine cabinet and make your home safe from drug theft and abuse.” Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are at alarming rates, 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 medicine, often flushing them down the toilet or throwing them away - both potential safety and health hazards.
Carl J. Kotowski, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Jersey Division said, “It is vital for residents to clean out their medicine cabinets by properly disposing of their unused or unwanted prescribed medications. Every day approximately 120 people die from a drug overdose, about half from prescription opioids and heroin. Prescription opioid abuse in many instances will transition to heroin use and abuse.”
The National Prescription Drug Take-Back is the result of a Take-Back program which was started in New Jersey by the DEA New Jersey Division, New Jersey Office of the Attorney General, and the Partnership for a Drug Free New Jersey. The nine Take-Back events nationwide from 2010-2014 resulted in 4.8 million pounds or 2,400 tons of unwanted medication collected. New Jersey residents surrendered more than 140,000 pounds or 70 tons of medication.
