Law Enforcement Agencies Prepare for National Prescription Drug Take Back Day
The spring 2023 National Prescription Drug Take Back Day—where Americans can safely and anonymously dispose of unused, unneeded, and expired prescription drugs—will occur on Saturday, April 22, 2023.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and law enforcement partners will host the event at more than 4,000 sites nationwide from 10am to 2pm local time.
The 24th National Take Back Day is an effort to safely discard prescription drugs, whether they be tablets, capsules, patches, and other solid forms of prescription drugs. The aim is to prevent these drugs from falling into the wrong hands before they become “a gateway to addiction.” It is also organized and monitored by law enforcement so the drugs can be disposed of in accordance with federal law.
“DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day reflects DEA’s commitment to Americans’ safety and health, encouraging the public to remove unneeded medications from their homes as a measure of preventing medication misuse and opioid addiction from ever starting,” said the DEA on its website.
At the last Take Back Day in October, DEA collected over 647,000 pounds of unneeded medication at 4,902 collection sites and 4,340 law enforcement agencies participated.
At the Take Back Day in April 2022, DEA collected over 721,000 pounds of prescription drugs.
“We’re encouraging families to look through their medicine cabinets and remove the temptation for experimentation that can come when others know you’re holding onto a medication,” said DEA Omaha Division Special Agent in Charge Justin King.
In partnership with local law enforcement, Take Back Day has removed more than 8,300 tons of medication from circulation since its inception in 2010.
In addition to the potential dangers of addiction or falling into the hands of children, improperly disposing of prescription drugs by throwing them away or flushing them down the toilet can contaminate ground water.
The Office of the Virginia Attorney General points out that pharmaceutical contaminants have been shown to harm fish and wildlife, as well as humans when they drink from contaminated bodies of water.
The office also published roadmap for communities on how to host a successful prescription drug take back event.