United States Drug Enforcement Administration

SAN DIEGO - America is presently experiencing an epidemic of addiction, overdose and death due to abuse of prescription drugs, particularly opioid painkillers.  6.4 million Americans age 12 and over-2.4 percent of the population-abuse prescription drugs, according to the 2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health released last month, more than abuse cocaine, heroin, hallucinogens, and methamphetamine combined.  Drug overdoses are now the leading cause of injury-related death in the United States, eclipsing deaths from motor vehicle crashes or firearms.  The majority of prescription drug abusers report that they obtain their drugs from friends and family, including from the home medicine cabinet.

Last April, during its 11th Take Back Day, the DEA and over 4,200 of its national, tribal, and community law enforcement partners collected 893,498 (about 447 tons) of unwanted prescription drugs at almost 5,400 collection sites.  Since the program began six years ago, about 6.4 million (about 3,200 tons) of drugs have been collected. That’s more than a quarter pound of pills for each of the 25 million children aged 12 to 17 in America, pills that won’t result in abuse or overdose. 

DEA San Diego and its partners will hold their 12th National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day with in San Diego and four sites in Imperial Counties.  The Imperial County locations are as follows:  Calexico - Food 4 Less, 109 W. Birch Street, Calexico El Centro - Vons, 750 N. Imperial Ave, El Centro Imperial - Border Patrol Sector, 293 W. Aten Rd, Imperial Brawley - Vons, 475 W. Main Street, Brawley.  This service is free of charge, with no questions asked.

Only pills and other solids, like patches, will be accepted-the public should not bring liquids, needles or other sharps to take back sites.