U.S. Attorney’s Office Joins DEA for 10th National Prescription Drug Take-Back

Memphis, TN – This Saturday, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will join the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for its 10th National Prescription Drug Take-Back. Edward L. Stanton III, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, and Michael Stanfill, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s Atlanta Field Division – Memphis Resident Office, announced the collaboration today.

"Prescription drug abuse constitutes one of the greatest public safety and public health epidemics of our time, inflicting devastating, long-term effects on individuals – and destroying families, neighborhoods, and entire communities. Join our fight against this issue by ridding your medicine cabinets of any unneeded prescription drugs."

The Prescription Drug Take-Back will take place in West Tennessee and nationwide Saturday, September 26th, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Collection sites will be set up throughout local communities for residents to safely dispose their unused, unwanted, and/or expired prescription drugs. Residents can visit

www.dea.gov to view the sites for every local community. New take-back locations will be added to the website on a continuous basis.

The nine Take-Backs that have occurred over the last four years have produced substantial results: More than 4.8 million pounds (2,411 tons) of prescription drugs have been collected by law enforcement. The last Take-Back event in September 2014 garnered 617,150 pounds (309 tons) of unwanted medicine across the country. In Tennessee, there were 11,510 pounds of prescription drugs disposed of by residents during last year’s take-back.

"Prescription drug abuse is a huge problem, and this is a great opportunity for folks around the country to help reduce the threat," Stanfill said. "Please clean out your medicine cabinet and make your home safe from drug theft and abuse."

Prescription drug abuse has grown into a nationwide epidemic over recent years. It's the fastest-growing illicit drug issue in the country, according to the DEA's "National Drug Threat Assessment." Two and a half times more Americans currently abuse prescription drugs than those using cocaine, heroin, hallucinogens, and inhalants combined. Furthermore, a significant amount of people suffer accidental poisonings and overdoses due to overconsumption of prescription drugs.

Launched in 2010, the Prescription Drug Take-Backs are a way to spread awareness of, and help suppress, pharmaceutical-controlled substance abuse, distribution, and theft across the country. Studies have revealed that many of those who abuse prescription drugs obtain them from family and friends. Furthermore, many Americans do not know how to properly dispose of their unused medicine, often flushing them down the toilet or throwing them away – both potential safety and health hazards.

In addition to dea.gov, other websites adults and children can visit to educate themselves on the dangers of legal and illegal drugs are

www.justhinktwice.com and www.GetSmartAboutDrugs.com.