Third National Prescription Drug Take Back Day

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has scheduled another National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, (29 October). The free event will be held from 10:00 AM until 2:00 PM. As of this writing, there are 68 collection sites planned in Connecticut, 165 in Maine, 177 in Massachusetts, 78 in New Hampshire, 38 in Rhode Island, and 52 in Vermont.

Public health, law enforcement, and other government and community representatives will be working at these sites to collect expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs that are potentially dangerous if left in the family’s medicine cabinet.

National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is designed to address a vital public safety and public health issue.  More than seven million Americans currently abuse prescription drugs, according to the 2009 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health.  Each day, approximately, 2,500 teens use prescription drugs to get high for the first time, according to the Partnership for a Drug Free America.  Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including the home medicine cabinet.

DEA, in conjunction with local and state law enforcement agencies throughout the United States, conducted National Prescription Drug Take Back Days on Saturday, 25 September 2010 and 25 April 2011.  Almost 4,000 law enforcement agencies throughout the nation participated in these events, collecting more than 309 tons of pills.

To locate a collection site, please visit:

National Take Back Initiative Collection Sites

For more information and resources related to National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, please visit:

Drug Disposal - National Take Back Initiative

DEA: National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day Toolbox

Media report:

Bangor Daily News: Police departments statewide readying for drug take-back day (25 OCT 11)

Background information:

Partnership for a Drug Free America

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: SAMHSA: 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health