National Prescription Take Back Day Safely Removes Unused Medications from Local Homes

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Tomorrow, Northern Florida residents can join citizens across the nation in safely and anonymously disposing of their expired, unused, and unwanted prescription medications during the 15th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, announced United States Attorney Christopher P. Canova.

This weekend, through the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Take Back Day initiative, more than 5,600 collection sites staffed by almost 4,500 law enforcement agencies will be open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. local time.  The public can find a nearby collection site at www.DEATakeBack.com or by calling 800-882-9539.  (DEA cannot accept liquids, needles, or sharps.)  Over the past 7 years, more than 9 million pounds (4,500 tons) of prescription medications have been collected at 14 previous events.  The service is free and anonymous.

U.S. Attorney Canova said: “Tragically, an opioid addition can begin with unused pain pills in home medicine cabinets.  During Take Back Day, you can help protect your loved ones and educate your children on the dangers of misused pharmaceuticals while removing potentially dangerous medicines from your house.”

This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue.  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.  DEA launched its prescription drug take back program when both the Environmental Protection Agency and the Food and Drug Administration advised the public that flushing these drugs down the toilet or throwing them in the trash posed potential safety and health hazards.

The public has embraced the opportunity these Take Back Day events provide to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous prescription drugs.  Last fall, the public turned in 456 tons (912,000 pounds) of prescription drugs at more than 5,300 sites operated by the DEA and more than 4,200 of its local and tribal partners.

The following drop-off locations are available in the Northern District of Florida:

• Calhoun County Sheriff's Office
• Crestview Police Department
• Eglin AFB, 96 Security Forces Squadron
• Escambia County Sheriff’s Office
• Florida State University Police Department
• Fort Walton Police Department
• Gadsden County Sheriff's Office
• Gulf Breeze Police Department
• Havana Police Department
• Jackson County Sheriff's Office
• Lake City Police Department
• Lafayette County Sheriff's Office
• Leon County Sheriff’s Office
• Live Oak Police Department
• Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office
• Shalimar Police Department
• Tallahassee Police Department
• Wakulla County Sheriff's Office

For more information about properly disposing of unused medicines, visit the United States Food and Drug Administration website.

The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General.  To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website.  For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.