DEA To Hold 10th National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day This Saturday
Event will take place from 10 am-2 pm on Saturday, September 26th
SAN DIEGO - This Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. local time, DEA and its law enforcement and community partners will give the public another opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs. On Saturday, September 26th, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. DEA and its partners will hold their tenth National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day with 42 sites in San Diego and 3 sites in Imperial Counties. The Imperial County locations are as follows: Food 4 Less - , 109 W. Birch Street, Calexico, CA; Vons, - 750 N. Imperial Avenue, El Centro, CA; and Vons, - 475 W. Main Street, Brawley, CA. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.
The National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day addresses vital public safety and health issues. Many Americans are not aware that medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that many abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, many Americans do not know how to properly dispose of their unused medications, often flushing them down the toilet or throwing them away - posing safety and environmental hazards.
“Our goal is to reduce the risk of addiction and the 46,000 overdose deaths a year that come with prescription drug abuse. Take Back Day is a great opportunity for folks to help reduce the threat,” DEA Acting Administrator Rosenberg said. "Please clean out your medicine cabinet and make your home safe from drug theft and abuse.”
DEA’s previous nine nationwide Take-Back events collected 4,823,251 pounds-more than 2,411 tons-of drugs.
