United States Drug Enforcement Administration

SEATTLE - DEA reprises this weekend one of its most popular community programs:  National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.  On Saturday October 22 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., the public can dispose of their unused, unwanted prescription medications at one of 156 collection sites in the Pacific Northwest, operated by 146 local law enforcement agencies and other community partners.  The service is free of charge, no questions asked.

America is presently experiencing an epidemic of addiction, overdose and death due to abuse of prescription drugs, particularly opioid painkillers.  6.4 million Americans age 12 and over-2.4 percent of the population-abuse prescription drugs, according to the 2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health released last month, more than abuse cocaine, heroin, hallucinogens, and methamphetamine combined.  Drug overdoses are now the leading cause of injury-related death in the United States, eclipsing deaths from motor vehicle crashes or firearms.  The majority of prescription drug abusers report that they obtain their drugs from friends and family, including from the home medicine cabinet.

When the results of the 11 DEA Take Back Days for the PNW are combined, the DEA and its state, local, and tribal law-enforcement and community partners have removed over 300,328 (150.2 tons) of medication from circulation.  Since the program began six years ago, about 6.4 million (about 3,200 tons) of drugs have been collected nationwide. That’s more than a quarter pound of pills for each of the 25 million children aged 12 to 17 in America, pills that won’t result in abuse or overdose.  

The public can find a nearby collection site by visiting www.dea.gov, clicking on the “Got Drugs?” icon, and following the links to a database where they enter their zip code.  Or they can call 800-882-9539.  Only pills and other solids, like patches, can be brought to the collection sites-liquids and needles or other sharps will not be accepted.