Report by Paula Antolini, October 22, 2021, 10:45AM EDT
The National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is Oct. 23rd.
On Saturday, October 23, 2021, law enforcement agencies nationwide will be partnering with the DEA for the 21th Drug Take Back Day from 10:00 AM to 2:00PM.
Residents can bring their expired, unwanted and unused prescription medications to a designated location. Click Here to Locate a Collection Site Near You. The DEA and the Local Police Department will collect tablets, capsules, patches and other solid forms of prescription drugs. Liquids (including intravenous solutions), syringes, and other sharps, and illegal drugs will NOT be accepted. This service is free and anonymous, no questions asked. The Drug Take Back Days are conducted twice a year in April and October.
Since July 2018, pharmacies in Connecticut have been authorized to dispose of prescription medications. Some pharmacies in Connecticut have installed Drug Drop Boxes. The DEA and CDC are now posting instructions for safe disposal of medications in the trash at home. Learn more about this event and safe disposal of medications at www.deatakeback.com.
Too often, unused prescription drugs find their way into the wrong hands. That’s dangerous and often tragic. That’s why it was great to see thousands of folks from across the country clean out their medicine cabinets and turn in – safely and anonymously – a record amount of prescription drugs.
The National Prescription Drug Take Back Day addresses a crucial public safety and public health issue. According to the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 9.7 million people misused prescription pain relievers, 4.9 million people misused prescription stimulants, and 5.9 million people misused prescription tranquilizers or sedatives in 2019. The survey also showed that a majority of misused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet.
The DEA’s Take Back Day events provide an opportunity for Americans to prevent drug addiction and overdose deaths.
Results: April 2021 20th National Take Back:
- Total Law Enforcement Participation: 4,425
- Total Collection Sites: 5,060
- Total Weight Collected: 839,543 lbs. (420 Tons)
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