DEA Nashville District Office To Hold 11th Prescription Drug Take-Back Day This Saturday

The Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Nashville District Office is partnering with national, state, local and tribal law enforcement officials, as well as community coalition groups, to hold its 11^th state-wide Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on Saturday, April 30, 2016, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. local time. 

This one-day event will make it convenient for the public to rid their homes of potentially dangerous prescription drugs. At the event, Tennesseans will be able to drop off their expired, unused, and unwanted pills at sites across the state free of charge, no questions asked.  By doing so, they will help prevent prescription drug abuse and theft.

The public can find a nearby collection site by visiting www.dea.gov, clicking on the “Got Drugs?” icon, and entering their zip code into the search window, or they can call 800-882-9539.  Only pills and other solids, like patches, will be accepted.   Liquids, needles and other sharp objects will not be accepted.

Tennesseans participating in DEA’s last take back event held on September 26, 2015, yielded 17,427 pounds of unwanted or expired medications for safe and proper disposal at collection sites throughout the state. This was the largest amount collected during the 10 previous take back events.

The National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day addresses vital public safety and health issues. Many Americans are not aware that medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs.

Surveys of opioid drug users show that the majority of them get their drugs free from friends and family, including from the home medicine cabinet.  This is a unique opportunity for Americans to make their homes and medicine cabinets safe from theft and abuse.

Daniel R. Salter, the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division said, “Drug overdoses are the leading cause of injury-related death in the United States, eclipsing deaths from motor vehicle crashes or firearms. The Prescription Drug Take-Back program will allow Americans to properly and safely dispose of their prescription medication which could otherwise be abused for non-medical purposes. This event is free and anonymous. Simply turn in your unused, unwanted, unneeded medication, no questions asked. This is just one example of how DEA is working hand-in-hand with its law enforcement and community partners in an effort to stem the tide of prescription drug abuse.”  

The DEA encourages parents, along with their children, to educate themselves about the dangers of legal and illegal drugs by visiting DEA’s interactive websites at www.justhinktwice.com, www.GetSmartAboutDrugs.com and www.dea.gov.