A recent study by the Montana Office of Public Instruction found that 17% of Native American high school students in the state have used prescription medication without a prescription. In response, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Montana is supporting the Drug Enforcement Administration’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, scheduled for Saturday, October 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event will take place at sites throughout Montana, including locations on Native American reservations.
The initiative aims to remove expired and unused prescription drugs from homes, reducing the risk of misuse, diversion, and accidental poisoning. Prescription drug abuse rates remain high across the United States, contributing to accidental poisonings and overdoses.
“It’s an imperative that we protect Montana’s youth from opioid misuse and addiction, especially our Native American youth. More than one in six will use an opioid not prescribed to them. We encourage members of our reservation communities to take advantage of Drug Take Back Day by cleaning out their medicine cabinets. It’s a quick and easy way to help make our communities safer,” said U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme.
“Every year, residents in our Division and around the country turn in thousands of pounds of unneeded, unwanted, or expired medications,” said DEA RMFD Special Agent in Charge David Olesky. “This simple action can help prevent prescription drug misuse and reduce the potential for accidental overdoses and poisonings.”
Law enforcement agencies across Montana are participating in Take Back Day. Information about collection sites is available at https://www.dea.gov/takebackday.
Montana also provides year-round medication disposal options at pharmacies, hospitals, health centers, and other facilities throughout the state—including many near or within reservation communities such as Browning's IHS hospital, Rocky Boy Health Center in Box Elder, Milk River Pharmacy in Harlem, Northeast Montana Health Service locations in Poplar and Wolf Point, Bighorn Valley Pharmacy in Hardin, US Public Health Service in Lodge Grass, PHS Indian Health Center in Lame Deer, as well as several sites in Ronan, Polson, and St. Ignatius. A list of these locations can be found at https://dphhs.mt.gov/BHDD/SubstanceAbuse/dropboxlocations and https://www.dea.gov/everyday-takeback-day.
During the previous Take Back Day on April 26, 2025, over 4,400 law enforcement participants at more than 4,500 collection sites nationwide collected approximately 620,321 pounds (310 tons) of prescription drugs—bringing the total since the program began to nearly 19.8 million pounds (over 9,910 tons). In Montana alone during that event, residents turned in 1,229 pounds of prescription drugs at 20 sites with participation from nineteen law enforcement agencies; cumulatively Montanans have disposed of over 59,500 pounds through this program.
Further details about safe disposal or upcoming events can be found at www.DEATakeBack.com.
