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The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration announced its 20th Take Back Day is scheduled for April 24.
Last fall, the DEA collected a record-high amount of expired, unused prescription medications, with the public turning in nearly 500 tons of unwanted drugs.
Over the 10-year span of Take Back Day, DEA has brought in more than 6,800 tons of prescription drugs, a news release states. The Detroit Field Division, which covers Michigan, Ohio and parts of Northern Kentucky, collected a record-setting 94,000 pounds during the October 2020 take-back event.
"Helping people dispose of potentially harmful prescription drugs is just one way DEA is working to reduce addiction and stem overdose deaths," said DEA Detroit Field Division Special Agent in Charge Keith Martin. "Take Back Day is not only a great opportunity to rid your home of unused medication, but is also a time to have important conversations about proper use and storage of prescription medication."
Clearing out unused medicine is essential in the fight against opioid abuse, according to the DEA news release.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. has seen an increase in overdose deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic, with 83,544 Americans overdosing during the 12-month period ending July 1, 2020, the most ever recorded in a 12-month period. The increase in drug-overdose deaths appeared to begin prior to the COVID-19 health emergency but accelerated significantly during the first months of the pandemic.
In the Mahoning Valley, the public can drop off potentially dangerous prescription medications at collection sites listed at takeback day.dea.gov/.
Included in the collection will be tablets, capsules and other solid forms of prescription drugs. Liquids (including intravenous solutions), syringes and other sharps, and illegal drugs will not be accepted. DEA will continue to accept vaping devices and cartridges at its dropoff locations if the lithium batteries are removed.
Learn more about the event at www.deatakeback.com, or by calling 800-882-9539.