Option 2: DEA Nationwide Drug Take-Back Sites

National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day was April 27

The Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) sixth National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on April 27, 2013, collected twice the amount of unneeded and expired medications for safe disposal than the previous DEA Take-Back event six months ago. The level of consumer participation in the event shows the continued need for a means of safe, legal disposal of unused medications, including prescription controlled substances.

More than 5,829 locations participated in the sixth Take-Back Day, and 742,497 pounds (371 tons) of unneeded medications were collected, indicates DEA. The six Take-Back Days combined collected a total of 2.8 million pounds (1,409 tons) of unneeded prescription drugs, helping to prevent diversion, misuse, and abuse of the drugs.

AWARxE encouraged consumer participation in the DEA Drug Take-Back event through a social media campaign. The AWARxE Web site provides information about the importance of safe drug disposal in helping to curb prescription drug abuse year round. DEA has been holding take-back days twice each year, once in spring and once in fall, for past three years.

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