New England Residents Turn In 67,107 Pounds Of Prescription Drugs During Take-Back Event
BOSTON - Michael J. Ferguson Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England announced that 67,107 pounds of expired, unused, and unwanted prescriptions were collected throughout New England on Saturday, September 26, 2015. “The amount of drugs collected clearly indicates that residents of New England are motivated to make their community and homes safer for our youth,” said Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Ferguson. “Our obligation is to improve public safety and public health, and we are committed to working with our law enforcement and community partners to ensure citizens are afforded the opportunity to safely dispose prescription medications.”
This past weekend, 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 DEA’s 10th National Drug Take-Back event since September 2010; cumulatively, these events have collected 5,525,021 pounds of drugs.
The DEA New England Field Division encompasses six states that collected prescription medication. The following are the results broken down by state:
Connecticut 6,501 lbs.
Massachusetts 24,396 lbs.
Maine 19,760 lbs.
New Hampshire 7,767 lbs.
Rhode Island 2,883 lbs.
Vermont 5,800 lbs.
Recent DEA drug disposal regulations authorize certain DEA registrants to become authorized collectors. Presently, there are 615 authorized collectors nationwide. DEA will continue holding Tack-Back Days while these and other collectors’ take back programs are launched and expanded. The public may find authorized collectors in their communities by calling DEA Office of Diversion Control’s Registration Call Center at 1-800-882-9539.
In addition New England residents should check with their local Police Departments as many of them have a drop off receptacle/kiosk so that the public can drop off unused, unneeded and expired prescription medications seven days a week throughout the year with no questions asked in an anonymous manner.
