National Prescription Drug Take Back Day removes over 645K pounds of medications

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – In total, more than 645,000 pounds of unwanted medications are off of household shelves thanks to National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.

According to a release by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, on Oct. 24, more than 4,200 law enforcement agencies collected unused medications to prevent drug misuse.

The effort marked 31 years as agencies hosted collection sites throughout the United States, officials say.

In the Louisville Field Division alone, which includes Kentucky, Tennessee and West Virginia, the DEA says nearly 49,000 pounds of medications were accepted, an increase of almost 18% compared to the previous take back day.

“Twice a year, communities across the country come together for National Prescription Drug Take Back Day to help remove unused and unwanted medications from homes, reducing the risk of misuse, accidental poisonings and overdoses,” said DEA Administrator Terry Cole.

“I want to thank everyone who came out and supported National Prescription Drug Take Back Day,” said Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott, head of DEA’s Louisville Field Division. “By properly disposing of your old prescription medications, you are helping us keep potentially dangerous drugs away from those who might otherwise abuse them.”

More than 15,300 pharmacies, hospitals, businesses and many police departments offer safe medication disposal year-round.

For information on permanent drop boxes, visit DEA’s Every Day is Take Back Day webpage.