National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is Oct 26
The National Prescription Drug Take Back Day addresses a crucial public safety and public health issue. According to the 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 9.9 million Americans misused controlled prescription drugs. The study shows that a majority of abused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet.
On Saturday, October 26, police stations, pharmacies and community centers will be hosting prescription drug take back at over 4,000 locations. To find a location near you, visit TakeBackDay.DEA.gov.
Go to your medicine cabinet and check for any unused or expired medications including opioids. Opioids go by many names, including morphine, codeine, oxycodone, hydromorphone, methadone, buprenorphine, and fentanyl in addition to other names such as Vicodin, OxyContin, Percocet, Opana, Codeine, Fentanyl, Tramadol or morphine such as Kadian and Avinz.
Unused medicine is a threat to the lives of children, older adults, and pets. Accidental drug misuse sends thousands of Americans to the emergency room each year. If you don’t need it, get rid of your “left-over” drugs for your family’s safety. Each Take Back Day, thousands of pounds of prescription drugs are returned, helping to prevent incidents of drug abuse and misuse across the nation.
