DEA Arizona announces 18th National Prescription Drug Take Back
Event will take place throughout Arizona from 10:00 am-2:00 pm on Saturday, October 26
PHOENIX – DEA officials in Arizona announce the 18th National Prescription Drug Take-Back will take place October 26th, from 10 am-2 pm local time. Sites will be set up throughout communities statewide so local residents can anonymously return their unwanted, unneeded, or expired prescription drugs for safe disposal. New to this year’s event, Take-Back sites will also collect vaping devices for disposal. (DEA cannot accept liquids, needles, sharps or batteries from vaping devices.)
Arizona’s collection sites are listed at www.DEATakeBack.gov, with new locations added regularly. Currently, over a record 60 state, local and tribal police departments are providing 96 collection points state-wide, the highest-ever number of participating agencies in Arizona. Nationally, over 5,250 sites supported by 4,500 law enforcement partners across the country will be collecting unused medications.
“DEA’s National Take Back Initiative will reduce the supply of excess prescription drugs in support of our ongoing efforts to combat the opioid epidemic in Arizona and across the country,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA in Arizona Apolonio Ruiz. “This year, we are also addressing the current public health threat related to vaping by accepting vaping devices for disposal.”
The National Prescription Drug Take Back continues to address the ongoing public safety and health issues stemming from the opioid crisis. Prescription drug abuse in the U.S. remains alarming, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies continue to indicate that many abused prescription drugs are obtained through family and friends, as well as from the home.
Cumulatively in Arizona, over 167,078 pounds, or over 83 tons have been collected since the inception of the program. Nationally, DEA has collected over 11 million pounds since 2010.
