Saturday Is National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day

On Saturday (25 September), the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration will be coordinating a collaborative effort with state and local law enforcement agencies (including many agencies throughout New England) to remove potentially dangerous controlled substances from medicine cabinets.

Collection activities will take place from 10:00 AM through 2:00 PM at a variety of different sites (e.g., the Berlin, CT, Police Station; the Eliot, ME, Police Station; the Westborough, MA, Department of Public Works; the Claremont, NH, Savings Bank Parking Lot; the Cumberland, RI, Police Station; the Brattleboro, VT, Police Station).

The National Take-Back Day is designed to provide an opportunity for the public to surrender expired, unwanted, or unused pharmaceutical controlled substances and other medications for destruction.  These drugs are a potential source of supply for illegal use and are considered an unacceptable risk to public health and safety.

This one-day effort is designed to bring national focus to the issue of increasing pharmaceutical controlled substance abuse. The program is anonymous, and it focuses on prescription and over the counter solid dosage medications (i.e., tablets and capsules). Intravenous solutions, injectables, and needles will not be accepted. In addition, illicit substances such as marijuana or methamphetamine are not a part of this initiative.

To view a list of collection sites in a specific state, please click on the following link:

National Take Back Initiative Collection Sites

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Note: the are some communities in New England that has a 24/7 drop-off point for unused prescription drugs. An example is the Winooski, VT, Police Department’s Operation Pill Drop. The department maintains a drop box in the police station lobby for the anonymous disposal of drugs or medication (including illegal street drugs and paraphernalia).