Spokane - William D. Hyslop, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced that Saturday, Oct. 26, 2019, is National Prescription Drug “Take Back Day." This event will give the public its 18th opportunity in ten years to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous, expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs. For the first time, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA") will now accept vaping devices and cartridges, provided they do not contain lithium ion batteries, at any of it drop off locations. If batteries cannot be removed prior to drop-off, DEA encourages individuals to consult with stores that recycle lithium ion batteries.
United States Attorney Hyslop said, “Prescription Drug ‘Take Back Day’ is an important service provided by the DEA and its local and Tribal law enforcement partners that helps in the prevention of opioid addiction and overdose. I urge all members of our community to participate in this event to safely and anonymously dispose of their expired and unused prescription medications and vaping devices and cartridges."
Last April, Americans turned in 469 tons (937,443 pounds) of prescription drugs at more than 6,258 sites operated by the DEA and 4,969 of its local and Tribal law enforcement partners. Of those numbers, Washington State collected 16,757 pounds of prescription drugs at approximately 95 collections sites operated by the DEA and its local and Tribal law enforcement partners. In its 17 previous “take back" events, Washington State alone has collected 224,037 pounds of prescription drugs. Overall, in its 17 previous Take Back events, DEA and its partners have taken in almost 11,816,393 pounds - 5,908 tons - of pills.
The disposal service is free and anonymous, no questions asked. Liquids, needles, or sharps cannot be accepted at the sites, only pills or patches. This 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. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health shows year after year that the majority of misused and abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including someone else’s medication being stolen 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-pose potential safety and health hazards.
In the City of Spokane, year-round disposal sites are located at Spokane Police Department’s North Precinct, 5124 N. Market, Monday through Friday, 9:00 - 4:00; the Public Safety Building, 1100 W. Mallon Avenue, Monday through Friday 8:00 - 5:00; and Spokane Police Department’s Downtown Precinct in the Intermodal, 221 W. First, 24 hr/7 days a week. In Spokane County a year-round disposal site is located in the Spokane Valley Police Department lobby, 12710 E. Sprague Avenue, Monday through Friday, 8:00 - 5:00.
For more information about additional collection sites in Eastern Washington and the disposal of prescription drugs for the Oct. 26, 2019, Take Back Day event, go to www.DEATakeBack.com
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
