Knoxville, TN (WOKI / WVLT) – The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration is partnering with more than 4,300 law enforcement agencies nationwide for the 31st National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, October 24.
Collection sites will be open from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., giving residents a safe and convenient way to dispose of unwanted, expired, or unused prescription medications. More than 4,400 take-back locations will be available across the country.
DEA Administrator Terry Cole said the event has helped Americans safely remove more than 20 million pounds of medications from their homes since the program began in 2010.
“By participating in Take Back Day, you are preventing potentially addictive medications from falling into the wrong hands,” Cole said. “It’s a small step that can save lives.”
DEA Louisville Field Division Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott is encouraging residents to gather medications they no longer need and bring them to an authorized collection site.
“By dropping off your unneeded or expired medications at an authorized collection site, you’re making our community safer by keeping those drugs out of the hands of anyone who might otherwise abuse them,” Scott said.
Officials say the event is especially important because prescription opioids, including oxycodone, hydrocodone, codeine, and morphine, remain among the nation’s most commonly misused prescription drugs. Removing unused medications from homes can help reduce the risk of misuse, theft, and accidental ingestion.
Items Accepted
- Tablets and capsules
- Prescription patches
- Other forms of prescription medications
- Liquid medications in their original, sealed containers
Items Not Accepted
- Syringes and sharps
- Illegal drugs
Residents can find a nearby collection site by visiting www.DEATakeBack.com.
For those unable to participate on October 24, the DEA notes that more than 15,300 pharmacies, hospitals, businesses, and many local police departments offer year-round medication disposal options and permanent drop boxes.
