U.S. Attorney Will Thompson Encourages West Virginians to Participate in DEA's National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, April 27, 2024

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is Saturday, April 27, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. United States Attorney Will Thompson encourages West Virginians to take advantage of this latest opportunity to dispose of old, unwanted and unneeded medications.

Take Back Day offers a free, safe and anonymous way to get rid of prescription drugs that are susceptible to diversion and abuse. Dozens of collection sites throughout West Virginia have already been announced. Information including a collection site locator is available at www.DEATakeBack.com.

“This may seem like a small, simple step to take, but safely disposing of prescription drugs can go a long way in preventing tragic outcomes,” Thompson said.

Collection sites will not accept syringes, sharps, and illicit drugs. Liquid products, such as cough syrup, should remain sealed in their original container. The cap must be tightly sealed to prevent leakage.

The drug overdose epidemic in the United States is a clear and present public health, public safety, and national security threat. DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day reflects DEA’s commitment to Americans’ safety and health, encouraging the public to remove unneeded medications from their homes as a measure of preventing medication misuse and opioid addiction from ever starting.

For more than a decade, the DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day has helped Americans easily rid their homes of unneeded medications—those that are old, unwanted, or expired—that too often become a gateway to addiction. Working in close partnership with local law enforcement, Take Back Day has removed more than 8,950 tons of medication from circulation since its inception

 A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia.

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