United States Drug Enforcement Administration

WASHINGTON D.C. – DEA and nearly 4,500 law enforcement agencies joined forces last month to dispose of more than 620,000 pounds of unneeded and expired medications in an effort to prevent drug misuse and abuse. The spring collection event marked DEA’s 28th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.

Locally, the DEA Washington Division, which includes the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) collected 28,063 pounds between 305 locations. 

Since its inception 16 years ago, DEA Prescription Drug Take Back Day has helped Americans safely remove nearly 19.8 million pounds of expired, unwanted, or unused medications from their homes.

“We want to thank our state, local, and tribal partners for their continued support of DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day,” said DEA Acting Administrator Robert Murphy. “For sixteen years you have continued to show up to protect your communities by helping to remove the threat of medications from falling into the wrong hands. This program would not be possible without the support of our law enforcement and community partners.” 

Ibrar A. Mian, Special Agent in Charge of the Washington Division, commented that “We're giving a big shoutout to our local law enforcement, government and community partners for their dedication in setting up and running collection sites during our recent Take Back Day! By joining forces, we're reaching all sorts of communities and making huge leaps toward a safer, healthier world for everyone. Take Back is all about the community. Responsibly discarding prescription meds is key to stopping misuse and keeping them out of the wrong hands.”

If you missed National Prescription Drug Take Back Day or want to clean your medicine cabinet out on a semi-regular basis, safe disposal options are available year-round. Nearly 17,000 pharmacies, hospitals, and other authorized collectors nationwide continue to provide secure medication drop boxes, and many police departments offer permanent collection locations. To find a year-round drop-off location, visit Every Day is Take Back Day.

 Complete results for DEA’s fall National Prescription Drug Take Back Day are available at www.deaTakeBack.com.