DEA Holds Prescription Drug Take-Back Event October 26

With public participation at an all-time high after six prior events in three years, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and its national, tribal, and community partners will hold a seventh National Prescription Drug Take Back Day at thousands of sites across America on Saturday the 26th. These Take Back Days give the public the opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, or unwanted prescription drugs. Collection sites are open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. local time. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.

Prescription drugs that languish in medicine cabinets create a public health and safety concern because they are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high; almost twice as many Americans (6.8 million) currently abuse prescription drugs than the number of those abusing cocaine, hallucinogens, heroin, and inhalants combined, according to the 2012 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.

Floridians participating in DEA’s six previous Take-Back Days turned in nearly 45 tons—of prescription drugs, and had a record setting event this past April collecting over 13 tons of expired or unwanted medication at more than 229 sites operated by over 160 of DEA’s law enforcement partners.

U.S. Attorney Wifredo A. Ferrer stated, “I encourage everyone to take advantage of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on October 26. At a time when prescription drug abuse is causing more deaths than illicit drugs, this is a tremendous opportunity to safely dispose and rid your homes of expired, unused or unwanted prescription drugs, and the possible misuse or abuse of these drugs.”

DEA Special Agent in Charge Mark R. Trouville stated, “I applaud all Floridians who have participated in these Take-Back events. Their actions have reflected a strong commitment to protecting their families and the community. The DEA will continue to collaborate with our law enforcement partners to host these public safety events to greatly reduce the misuse and abuse of prescription drugs.”

The public can find a nearby collection site by visiting www.dea.gov, clicking on the “Got Drugs?” icon, and following the links to a database where they can enter their zip code. Or they can call 1-800-882-9539.

DEA is in the process of drafting regulations to implement the Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal Act of 2010, which amends the Controlled Substances Act to allow an “ultimate user” (the patient or patient’s caregiver, including the owners of animals being treated by veterinarians) of controlled substance medications to dispose of them by delivering them to entities authorized by the Attorney General to accept them. The Act also allows the Attorney General to authorize long term care facilities to dispose of their residents’ controlled substances in certain instances.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.