DEA Encourages Americans to Dispose of Expired and Unwanted Opioids
OKLAHOMA CITY - The Drug Enforcement Administration will be accepting unwanted prescription drugs on Saturday, April 27, from 10:00 to 2:00 at locations throughout the United States. In western Oklahoma, citizens may drop off prescription drugs anonymously at these locations:
* Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office, Midwest City Substation (8029 S.E. 29th Street)
* Moore Police Department, Sam’s Club (1705 South Broadway Avenue)
* Concho Agency
* Shawnee Police Department, The Clinic Pharmacy (3210 J.D. Kethley Road)
* Shawnee Police Department, Shawnee Senior Center (401 North Bell Avenue)
* Anadarko Agency (201 East Parker McKenzie Drive)
* Custer County Sheriff’s Office, Walmart Supercenter (1349 East Eagle Road, Weatherford)
* Comanche Nation Police Department (8527 Northwest Madische Road, Lawton)
* Pawnee Agency (123 White Eagle Drive, Ponca City)
To find collection sites nationwide, the public can go to www.DEATakeBack.com or call 800-882-9539.
With robust public participation over the course of 16 prior events, the National Prescription Drug Take Back Day Initiative continues to remove ever-higher amounts of opioids and other medicines from the nation’s homes, where they are vulnerable to misuse, theft, and abuse by family members and visitors, including children and teens. In continuation of this effort, DEA and its national, tribal, and community partners will hold the 17th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day across the country on Saturday, April 27, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. local time.
Now in its ninth year, DEA has collected a total of nearly 11 million pounds (more than 5,400 tons) of expired, unused, and unwanted prescription medications through its Take Back Day events. This weekend, approximately 6,000 collection sites will be manned by nearly 5,000 partner law enforcement agencies. The service is free and anonymous. DEA cannot accept liquids, needles, or sharps.
"Addiction causes a tremendous amount of pain and suffering, not just for those addicted to drugs, but also for their families and friends," said Acting DEA Administrator Uttam Dhillon. "Helping people keep their loved ones safe by disposing of unwanted, unused, and expired prescription medications is just one of many ways that DEA is working to break the cycle of addiction and overdose deaths plaguing this country."
Rates of prescription drug abuse in the United States continue to be alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. The majority of prescription drug abusers say they get their drugs free from friends and family, including from the home medicine cabinet. Take Back Day is a unique opportunity for Americans to protect their homes and medicine cabinets from theft and abuse.
National Take Back Day has received enthusiastic public support since its inception in 2010. Last October, the public turned in 457 tons (914,236 pounds) of prescription drugs at more than 5,800 sites operated by the DEA and nearly 4,800 of its local and tribal partners.
This release mentions private businesses merely to inform the public of take back locations; it is not intended as an endorsement of any particular business.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
