U.S. Attorney's Office And DEA Announce Next National Prescription Drug Take Back Day

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Mark your calendars for the 16^th Annual National Prescription Drug Take Back Day which will be held on Saturday, October 20, in Carson City, Washoe County, and Douglas County, and on Saturday, October 27, in all other participating Nevada counties.

“Prescription Drug Take Back Day is an opportunity to prevent drug abuse and addiction before they start,” said U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada. “Take Back Day is an important service provided by the DEA and its law enforcement partners that helps in the prevention of opioid addiction and overdose. I urge all Nevadans to join the nation in safely and anonymously disposing of their expired and unused prescription medications. This is an opportunity to be part of the opioid addiction epidemic solution.”

“Prescription drug abuse is still a significant problem and this is a great opportunity for folks throughout the State of Nevada to help reduce the threat,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Daniel W. Neill. “Please clean out your medicine cabinet and make your home safe from drug theft and abuse.”

Take Back Day addresses a crucial public safety and public health issue. According to the 2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 6.4 million Americans abused controlled prescription drugs. The study shows that a majority of abused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet, without their knowledge.

In 2017, more than 72,000 Americans lost their lives to drug overdoses, an increase from the 64,000 overdose deaths in 2016, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The majority of these deaths can be attributed to opioids, including illicit fentanyl and its analogues.

In 2016, there were 408 opioid-related deaths in Nevada, according to the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services. In 2016, Nevada’s per capita prescription rate for opioids was 87 per 100 residents. The Silver State ranked as the sixth highest state for the number of milligrams of opioids distributed per adult according to a DEA study. From 2010 to 2016, opioid-related hospitalizations have increased by 136% in emergency room encounters and 84% in in-patient admissions. During this time period, 85% of all opioid-related deaths in Nevada were deemed accidents.

Take Back Day is part of a nationwide effort sponsored by the DEA and it is a safe, convenient, and responsible way to dispose of unused, unwanted, and expired prescription drugs. There will be free drop-off locations throughout Nevada on:

• This Saturday, October 20, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., in Carson City, Washoe County, and Douglas County. The collection sites will be:
  • Save Mart located at 4348 South Carson Street
  • Save Mart located at 3620 North Carson Street
  • Food Maxx located at 3325 U.S. 50
  • Smith’s Food & Drug located at 599 East William Street
  • Walmart located at 3770 U.S. 395
  • Tillman Sub-Station located at 1281 Kimmerling Road
  • Walgreens located at 1342 U.S. Highway 395 North
  • Carson Valley Medical Center located at 1107 U.S. Highway 395 North
  • Smith’s Food & Drug Center located at 175 Lemmon Drive
  • Raley’s Market & Pharmacy located at 18144 Wedge Parkway
  • CVS located at 5019 South McCarran Boulevard
  • Save Mart located at 10500 North McCarran Boulevard
  • University of Nevada-Reno Police Department located at 1664 North Virginia Street
  • Smiths Drugs located at 750 South Meadows Parkway
  • Smiths Drugs located at 1255 Baring Boulevard
  • East Fire Station #4 located at 1476 Albite Road
  • Safeway located at 212 Elks Point Road
• Next Saturday, October 27, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., in all other participating Nevada counties. The collection sites will be:
  • Walgreens Pharmacy located at 2020 Reno Highway
  • CVS Pharmacy located at 461 West Williams Avenue
  • Fallon Tribal Health Clinic located at 1001 Rio Vista Drive
  • Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Enterprise Area Command located at 6975 West Windmill Lane
  • Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Northwest Area Command located at 9850 West Cheyenne Avenue
  • North Las Vegas Police Department Northwest Area Command Station located at 3755 West Washburn Road
  • Ridley’s Market located at 1125 West Winnemucca Boulevard

A complete list of collection sites may be found at www.DEATakeBack.com or by calling 1-800-882-9539.  

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