DEA Chicago Field Division Leads Nation on October Take Back Day
CHICAGO – On Oct. 24, 2026, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and more than 4,200 law enforcement partners collected 645,636 pounds of unused medications as part of ongoing efforts to prevent drug misuse. This event marked DEA’s 31st National Prescription Drug Take Back Day with 4,212 collection sites nationwide, including 64 tribal locations.
The DEA Chicago Field Division collected 94,327 pounds of unwanted medication throughout Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin, the most out of all 25 DEA domestic field divisions.
Since 2010, DEA’s National Prescription Take Back Day has collected 21,679,861 pounds of unused, unwanted, and expired medications – the equivalent of more than 10,840 tons – to help prevent prescription drug misuse and reduce the risk of accidental overdoses and poisonings.
“Twice a year communities across the country come together for National Prescription Drug Take Back Day to help remove unused and unwanted medications from homes, reducing the risk of misuse, accidental poisonings, and overdoses,” said DEA Administrator Terry Cole. “The collection of more than 645,000 pounds of medications this fall reflects the continued commitment of the public and our law enforcement partners to keep families safe.”
“The success of Take Back Day across the Chicago Field Division shows what is possible when residents, law enforcement, and community partners work together to safely dispose of unwanted medications,” said Todd C. Smith, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Chicago Field Division. “We are grateful for everyone who participated and helped safeguard our communities.”
More than 15,300 pharmacies, hospitals, businesses, and many police departments offer safe medication disposal year-round. For information on permanent drop boxes, visit DEA’s Every Day is Take Back Day webpage.
National Prescription Drug Take Back Day results are available at Take Back Day. Safe disposal of unused medications remains one of the simplest ways communities can help prevent drug misuse.
