United States Drug Enforcement Administration

ST. LOUIS – The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) St. Louis Division, encompassing Missouri, Kansas and Southern Illinois, is partnering with 196 law enforcement agencies to host the 28th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day Saturday, April 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. More than 219 Take Back sites across the DEA St. Louis Division will be open for the public to safely dispose of tablets, capsules, patches and other solid forms of prescription drugs. 

With nearly 4,500 collection sites nationwide, Take Back Day aims to reduce the risk of prescription drug misuse by helping Americans safely remove expired, unwanted or unused medications from their homes—medications that might otherwise be misused.

For 16 years, DEA has worked with state and local partners to make safe medication disposal accessible to everyone, helping communities prevent prescription drug misuse and raise awareness of the dangers of keeping unneeded medications in the home.

“National Prescription Drug Take Back Day provides communities with an opportunity to safely rid their homes of medications that are unused and expired,” DEA St. Louis Division Special Agent in Charge Michael Davis said. “It also gives families a way to begin conversations on the consequences of prescription misuse. By opening dialogue now, you could make a significant impact on a life down the line.” 

According to The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, opioids such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, codeine, and morphine are among the most frequently misused prescription pain medications. 

In October 2024, DEA and its partners collected nearly 630,000 pounds of medications. Since the program’s inception in 2010, more than 19.2 million pounds of medications have been collected and safely destroyed.

Find a collection site near you for Saturday’s event by visiting www.DEATakeBack.com.   

For those unable to participate on April 26, nearly 17,000 pharmacies, hospitals, clinics, and law enforcement locations offer year-round drug disposal options across the country to ensure Every Day is Take Back Day.