DEA's National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day

SATURDAY APRIL 30th

Twice-annual event takes place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

Boston, MA – During the last and 10^th National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day the New England Field Division over the course of four hours collected 67,107 pounds of expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs at 596 collection sites throughout New England.  The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is continuing its efforts to take back unused, unwanted and expired prescription medications.  The DEA invites the public to bring their potentially dangerous, unwanted medicines to one of the hundreds of collection sites all over New England.  Many local Police Departments across Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Maine and Vermont have drop off receptacles or kiosk that is secured in the lobby of their Police Departments so that the public can drop off unused, unneeded, and expired prescription medications 7 days a week throughout the year with no questions asked in an anonymous manner.  There will also be numerous collection sites all over New England on April 30, 2016 in some Town Halls, Senior Centers, Community Centers and pharmacies.  The public can find a nearby collection site by visiting www.dea.gov clicking on the “Got Drugs” icon, and entering the zip code into the search window, or they can call 800-882-9539. 

All across America and especially here in New England we are experiencing an epidemic of addiction, overdose and death due to abuse of prescription drugs, particularly opioid painkillers.  6.5 million Americans abuse prescription drugs, according to the most recent National Survey on Drug Use and Health, which is more than abuse cocaine, heroin, and hallucinogens combined.  

"Many Americans are not aware that medicines which languish in home cabinets are highly vulnerable to diversion, misuse, and abuse," said DEA Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Ferguson.  "Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are at alarming levels, as are the number of accidental poisoning and overdoses due to the illegal use of these drugs.  Please take the time to clean out your medicine cabinet and make your home safe from drug theft and abuse."

“While medications are necessary to treat illness, we need to be careful that they do not fall into the wrong hands,” said United States Attorney, District of New Hampshire Emily Gray Rice.  “The DEA's Drug Take-back Day is a great opportunity to keep the public safe by properly disposing of unused prescription medication, and I encourage everyone to participate.”

Drug overdoses are now the leading cause of injury-related death in the United States, eclipsing deaths from motor vehicle crashes or firearms.  The removal from homes of unwanted prescription pills that can be abused, stolen or resold is an easy way to help fight the epidemic of substance abuse and addiction.

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