Drug Take-Back Day: April 27

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and participating local law enforcement are coordinating a nationwide drug “take-back” day on April 27th from 10 am to 2 pm. This one-day event will provide residents with no cost anonymous collection of unwanted and expired medicines.

Click here to find a DEA collection site near you.

It’s a great time to clean out your medicine cabinet!

Medicines in the home are a leading cause of accidental poisoning and flushed or trashed medicines can end up polluting our waters. Rates of prescription drug abuse are alarmingly high – over half of teens abusing medicines get them from a family member or friend, including the home medicine cabinet, and often without their knowledge.

What if I miss this event, what I can do?

For the safety of our kids, families and environment, some communities, pharmacies, and law enforcement are paying for temporary ongoing take-back programs to help you properly dispose of unwanted and expired medicines in your homes until a permanent statewide program is in place.

Click here to find a temporary ongoing take-back program.

Experts agree: Take-back programs are the first choice. Law enforcement, public health, and environmental professionals stand united in support of take-back programs, such as the DEA’s take-back event on Saturday, April 27th, as the safest and most responsible way to dispose of unwanted and expired medicines to protect your family and to protect our waters.

Although needed, events like this aren’t a permanent solution. The DEA’s National Pharmaceutical Take-Back Day is a great one-time opportunity, but it provides only a band-aid solution to an ongoing need. Year-round programs are required to ensure families in Washington have ongoing access to safe disposal of unwanted and expired medicines.