Saturday is National Prescription Drug Take Back Day - How to safely dispose of unneeded medications

You can safely dispose of unneeded, unwanted, or expired medications this Saturday during the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) National Prescription Drug Take Back Day and help prevent drug misuse and abuse. 

The DEA is once again partnering with numerous law enforcement agencies and organizations across the country to help Americans safely dispose of unneeded medications.  

What can be collected

• Tablets, capsules, patches, and other forms of prescription medications
• Liquid medications securely sealed in their original containers

What won’t be collected

• Syringes, sharps, and illicit drugs

DEA: Preventing potentially addictive medications from falling into the wrong hands can save lives

The DEA says removing unneeded medications from the home reduces the risk of misuse or accidental ingestion. 

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

The backstory:

The DEA’s biannual Take-Back Day is typically held on the last Saturday in April and October, but many law enforcement agencies throughout the U.S. maintain year-round collection receptacles for people to safely dispose of prescription drugs in accordance with DEA regulations.  

In addition, MyOldMeds.com offers a free, year-round locator that connects people to more than 34,000 medication disposal sites across the country. 

What they're saying:

"The DEA’s biannual Drug Take Back Day serves as an important reminder to clear out your medicine cabinets and safely dispose of the unused and expired medications that have accumulated in your home," said Irina Butler from MyOldMeds in a release. "If you can’t participate in the event this Saturday, MyOldMeds.com offers a free locator tool that connects people to year-round disposal locations in their communities. This resource makes it easy to dispose of your medications any day of the year."

Over 10,000 tons of medications have been collected since the start of the DEA Take-Back Day

Since the program started, the DEA says 21,034,225 pounds (10,517 tons) of medications have been collected.

What they're saying:

"By participating in Take Back Day, you are preventing potentially addictive medications from falling into the wrong hands – a small step that can save lives. I am grateful to the thousands of law enforcement and community partners who make these events possible, and I urge everyone to take a few minutes on Saturday, October 24, to clean out your medicine cabinets," said DEA Administrator Terry Cole in a release. 

By the numbers:

In April, the DEA partnered with 4,306 law enforcement agencies nationwide and collected 642,410 pounds (321 tons) of medications.  

Visit Take Back Day to find a collection site near where you live.

HealthConsumerU.S.