Last April, Americans turned in 450 tons (900,000 pounds) of prescription drugs at almost 5,500 sites operated by the DEA and more than 4,200 of its state and local law enforcement partners. Overall, in its 13 previous Take Back events, DEA and its partners have taken in over 8.1 million pounds—more than 4,050 tons—of pills.

National Prescription Take Back Day initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. 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. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines—flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash—both pose potential safety and health hazards.

Drop Site Information:

Search by Zip Code or County/City/State within a 10-100 mile radius using the Collection Site Search website at: https://apps.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/NTBI/ntbi-pub.pub?_flowExecutionKey=_c94A9F91C-2BFA-2A5D-4F09-2634BF62DAA5_k0F198F4A-E4A9-9919-5B52-6446A702F31C

Additional collection sites are added daily, please visit the websites often for updates. For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs or about the October 28 State “Take Back Day” events, go to the DEA Diversion website.