The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has launched a new campaign encouraging the public to make every day take back day by utilizing year-round collection sites to dispose of unneeded and unwanted medications.
For more than a decade, DEA has worked with state and local law enforcement partners to host National Prescription Drug Take Back Days each year to help Americans rid their homes of unneeded medications. The Take Back program has received an overwhelming response from communities across the country. In 2023, DEA collected more than 1.2 million pounds of unneeded medications at more than 4,600 sites nationwide during our two one-day events.
DEA has now registered a record 17,000 pharmacies as authorized collectors to help Americans dispose of unused prescription drugs any day of the year. These safe disposal receptacles, in addition to DEA’s annual Take Back Day events, provide the public with an easy, no-cost opportunity to anonymously dispose of medications that are no longer needed.
Take Back Day has helped Americans easily rid their homes of unwanted or expired medications. These medications can be a gateway to addiction and have helped fuel the opioid epidemic.
Local Sheriff’s Department facilities and CVS locations have a secure disposal container to take unwanted, unused or expired medications to keep medications from falling into the hands of abusers.
