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DEA Collects Record Amount of Unneeded Medications During Fourth National Take-Back Day
A record-breaking 552,161 pounds (276 tons) of unwanted or expired medications were turned in for safe disposal at collection sites across the country, as part of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. DEA coordinated with law enforcement, local government, and community partners to provide 5,659 take-back sites on April 28, 2012, and sites were available in all 50 states and United States territories. This was the fourth take-back day coordinated by DEA in the past two years, and to date over 1.5 million pounds (774 tons) of unneeded medication have been collected for safe disposal.
Removing unused, unneeded medications from the home and disposing of them properly helps prevent misuse and abuse of the drugs. DEA Administrator Michele M. Leonhart stated, "We are pleased at the response of the American people once again, and we thank them for participating and contributing to the battle against prescription drug abuse.”
Leonhart noted that 4,268 agencies participated with DEA nationwide in Saturday’s event. NABP, through the AWARXE® consumer protection program, encouraged consumers to participate in the April 28, 2012 DEA Take-Back Day by promoting the event through Web site posts, banner advertising, national print advertising, and a social media news release, as well as online, television, and radio public service announcements that reached over 65 million readers. In addition, AWARXE shared information about the take-back day, the dangers of prescription drug abuse, and medication safety with Internet bloggers and popular Internet news sites that in turn posted numerous articles.
Leonhart indicates that “While a uniform system for prescription drug disposal is being finalized, [DEA] will continue to sponsor these important take-back opportunities as a service to our communities.” More information about safe, legal disposal methods is available on the AWARXE Medication Disposal page.
