Keeping Prescription Medications Out of the Wrong Hands

The drug overdose epidemic in the U.S. has been recognized as a threat to our public health and safety. To help combat this threat, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has sponsored a Drug Take Back Day each spring and fall for the past 16 years. This spring, the event will be held on Saturday, April 26.

When prescription medications fall into the wrong hands, it can lead to serious and sometimes fatal injuries. It has been found that often the people who misuse or abuse prescription drugs get them from the medicine cabinets of family or friends. By properly disposing of unused or expired medications, both prescription and over the counter, we can each do our small part in helping to reduce these accidental overdoses. To learn more about how and where to dispose of medications you no longer need, visit the DEA’s Take Back Day page for details about this month’s event.