This Saturday, get rid of unused, expired and unwanted drugs at the 10th Annual DEA National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day.
On September 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., hundreds of locations throughout the state will accept unneeded and expired prescription drugs, including controlled substances, for safe and legal disposal.
The Take-Back event aims to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the public about the potential for the abuse of medications.
The family medicine cabinet is where many drug abusers get prescription medications that they use to get high. Anyone who has access to that bathroom – including teens, relatives, guests and workers in your home – can remove some or all of the medications. Prescription painkillers are especially sought out by abusers, as are muscle relaxants and anti-anxiety medications.
Prescription drug abuse has been declared a national epidemic and thousands of people die every year from overdoses and poisonings. Studies show that many of those prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends.
In the previous nine nationwide Take-Back events for the last four years, 4,823,251 pounds or 2,411 tons of drugs were collected.
To find a collection site near you, go to www.dea.gov .
