DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day Set for October 25, 2025

SIOUX FALLS – United States Attorney Ron Parsons is highlighting an important opportunity for all of us to help protect lives and prevent drug abuse.  The Drug Enforcement Administration’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day will take place this Saturday, October 25.  This biannual event will begin at 10:00 a.m. and continue until 2:00 p.m. at multiple, convenient sites across the State of South Dakota.  Its purpose is to give everyone a discreet, safe, and easy way to rid their homes of potentially dangerous, expired, and unused prescription drugs.

“Too often, unused prescription drugs, including opioids and other addictive pain medications, find their way into the wrong hands,” said U.S. Attorney Parsons.  “That’s dangerous and often tragic.  This is the perfect opportunity for people to clean out their medicine cabinets and drop off – completely anonymously – old or unused prescription drugs so they can be safely destroyed. We encourage the public to help make our communities cleaner and safer by participating in the DEA’s Drug Take Back Day.”

Unused medications can pose a public safety risk, particularly to vulnerable populations such as the elderly and children.  Rates of prescription drug abuse in the United States are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses from these drugs.  This program offers a safe, easy and effective way for everyone to do their part.  On the last National Take Back Day, held in April of this year, more than 310 tons of prescription drugs were collected and destroyed.

Sheriff’s offices, police departments, and federal, state, and tribal agencies across South Dakota are participating in this important work.  More information, including addresses and maps to collection sites near you, can be found here: www.DEATakeBack.com.