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DEA National Pharmaceutical Take-Back Day

Saturday April 30, 2011

The DEA and local law enforcement in many communities are
collecting potentially dangerous medicines for safe disposal on April 30th.

 "Take-back programs are the best way to dispose of old drugs.”

“Unused or expired prescription medications are a public safety issue, leading to accidental poisoning, overdose, and abuse.

In response to rising rates of prescription drug abuse and the dire need for safe drug disposal programs, the federal Drug Enforcement Agency and participating local law enforcement are coordinating a nationwide drug “take back” day on April 30 from 10 am to 2pm. This one-day event will provide residents with "free" anonymous collection of unwanted or expired medicines. 

 
To see if there is a collection site in your community, use the Search Tool on the
DEA's Take-Back Day Site. 

What do I do if I miss the event? (Print this handout)

Currently, there are 13 counties in Washington that provide temporary drug take-back programs at law enforcement offices where residents can take their medicines throughout the year. Some pharmacies will also take back unwanted medicines but not controlled substances.  Use a Temporary Drug Take-Back Location

Washington Needs a Statewide Program

“Drugs thrown in the trash can be retrieved and abused or illegally sold.  Unused drugs that are flushed contaminate the water supply.  Proper disposal of unused drugs saves lives and protects the environment.”

This Take-Back Day is a great one-time opportunity but it does not solve the ongoing need for our communities.  Families in Washington need access to secure take-back programs year-round for safe disposal of leftover and expired medicines.

Taxpayers and local budgets should not be stressed any more by providing medicine take back programs when drug manufacturers could provide take-back programs as a cost of doing business, just as they already do in other countries.  For a couple of pennies per prescription or bottle of cold pills, drug companies could finance and provide a safe ongoing medicine take-back system for our state.

Learn more about Who Can Make It Happen and about why the DEA, EPA and FDA support the use of medicine take-back programs.

Medicine take-back programs are collecting large amounts of medicines. On a similar take-back day in September 2010, almost 9,000 pounds of medicines were collected across Washington State!