U.S. Attorney Christina E. Nolan Announces DEA and Partner’s Results For National Prescription Drug Take Back Day

The final tally is in from the 19th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on October 24, 2020. The Drug Enforcement Administration’s New England Field Division and its partners, over the course of four hours, collected 115,944.24 pounds or over 57 tons of expired, unused, unwanted prescription drugs, electronic vaping devices and cartridges at 586 collection sites throughout New England. This is in comparison to the first National Prescription Drug Take Back Day in September 2010, when the division collected 25,810 pounds of unwanted drugs.

U.S. Attorney Christina E. Nolan praised the DEA for spearheading the take back initiative, and thanked state, local, and county Vermont law enforcement partners for participation and assistance with the program.  She stated: “It goes without saying that we cannot charge our way out of the drug crisis.  As we continue to vigorously pursue reduction of drug supply in Vermont through investigation and prosecution, we must work with equal vigor to reduce demand and prevent first time drug use.  I commend our partners at DEA for recognizing the importance of prevention and for doing so much to remove excess pharmaceutical drug supply from homes throughout Vermont.  Every pill taken back on Saturday contributes to a reduction in risk that a Vermonter will try opiates or other drugs for the first time.  Accordingly, we should all celebrate this initiative.”

“Thanks to the public over 57 tons of unwanted, expired, unused, prescription drugs, electronic vaping devices and cartridges have now been taken out of harm’s way across New England,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle.  “Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse.  These events are only made possible through the hard work of our law enforcement, coalitions and community partners and DEA thanks each and every one of them for their efforts in making this initiative a huge success.”

The following is a breakdown of collected weights in pounds for the six New England States:

MA – 40,284.81 lbs.

ME – 40,100 lbs.

NH – 16,840 lbs.

CT –   8,002.5 lbs.

RI –    6,218.70 lbs.  

VT –   4,498.23 lbs.

Total- 115,944.24 lbs.

The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice.  Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years