United States Drug Enforcement Administration

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - North Carolinians participating in the United States Drug Enforcement Administration’(DEA’s) eleventh National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day (NTBI) held on Saturday, April 30, 2016, turned in 15,449 pounds of unwanted or expired medications for safe and proper disposal at sites set up throughout the state. This amount is the highest total collected statewide of the ten previous Take-Back events.  

Daniel R. Salter, the Special Agent in (SAC) of the DEA Atlanta Field Division commented, “DEA’s eleventh Prescription Drug Take-Back campaign was a great success both locally and nationally. While North Carolinians turned in 15,449 pounds of unwanted or expired medications, nationally, 893,498 (447 Tons) of expired and unwanted prescription medications were collected in more than 5,359 sites that were available across the United States. The local amount collected was the third highest total collected out of the ten previous Take-Back events. I would like to thank the multitude of (both law enforcement and non-law enforcement) who worked tirelessly to make this event another great success.”

The NTBI addresses a crucial public safety and public health issue. Surveys of opioid drug users show that the majority of them get their drugs free from friends and family, including from the home medicine cabinet.  This event was a unique opportunity for Americans to make their homes and medicine cabinets safe from theft and abuse. It also helped raise awareness about the dangers of controlled prescription opioids and allowed these potentially dangerous substances to be properly disposed of in an environmentally safe way. 

SAC Salter encourages parents, along with their children, to educate themselves about the dangers of legal and illegal drugs by visiting DEA’s interactive websites at www.justthinktwice.com, www.GetSmartAboutDrugs.com and www.dea.gov.