Reagan T. Fondren Acting United States Attorney for the Western District Of Tennessee | U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee
Memphis, TN – The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), in collaboration with over 4,400 law enforcement partners, is organizing the 28th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, April 26. This event, scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., offers a platform for communities across the United States to dispose of unneeded prescription medications safely and anonymously.
This initiative, featuring nearly 4,500 collection sites nationwide, is designed to reduce prescription drug misuse by helping Americans safely remove expired, unwanted, or unused medications from their homes. Such medications could otherwise be misused.
“Disposing of unneeded, expired medications helps us protect the safety and health of our communities,” said DEA Acting Administrator Derek S. Maltz. “Families can minimize the risk of medications falling into the wrong hands by simply bringing unused medications to one of the 4,500 drop-off locations this Saturday. National Prescription Drug Take Back Day would not be possible without our incredible local and state law enforcement partners and the community groups who work every year to make Take Back Day a success.”
Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott, head of DEA’s Louisville Division, added, “I encourage everyone to join us this weekend and participate in Take Back Day. The small act of cleaning out your home medicine cabinet can have a big impact on the safety of our community by keeping addictive medications away from those who might abuse them.”
Participants can drop off tablets, capsules, patches, and other solid forms of prescription drugs. Liquids, such as cough syrups, must be tightly sealed in original containers. Vaping devices and cartridges will be accepted if lithium batteries are removed. However, syringes, sharps, and illicit substances will not be collected.
According to The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, opioids like oxycodone, hydrocodone, codeine, and morphine are some of the most frequently misused prescription pain medications. In October 2024, the DEA and its partners collected nearly 630,000 pounds of medications. Since the program's inception in 2010, over 19.2 million pounds of medications have been collected and destroyed safely.
To find a nearby collection site for this event, visit www.DEATakeBack.com.
For those unable to participate on April 26, nearly 17,000 locations, including pharmacies, hospitals, clinics, and law enforcement spots, offer year-round drug disposal options to ensure every day can be a take back day.
