The Drug Enforcement Agency’s (DEA) National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is April 30, 2022. This event, which happens twice a year, is a safe, convenient, and responsible way to dispose of unused or expired prescription drugs at locations in communities throughout the country. The drug overdose epidemic in the United States is a clear and present public health, public safety and national security threat.
Most people who misuse prescription drugs get them from family, friends and acquaintances. Unused or expired prescription medications are a public safety issue, leading to potential accidental poisoning, misuse, and overdose. On Drug Take Back Day, the DEA encourages the public to remove unneeded medications from their homes as a measure of preventing medication misuse and opioid addiction from ever starting. Proper disposal of unused drugs saves lives and protects the environment.
A variety of print and digital resource are available in the DEA Drug Take Back Partnership Toolbox. Health care facilities and community stakeholders are encouraged to utilize these promotional elements to prevent opioid addiction and other adverse drug events. A record amount of prescriptions drugs have been turned in safely and anonymously thanks to the increased awareness of the DEA Take Back effort.
- Find local North Dakota Take Back locations. The North Dakota Behavioral Health also has excellent information and resources on statewide and community efforts.
- The Avoid Opioid SD website contains valuable testimonials, data, and resources to help prevent opioid misuse and addiction. The site includes Take Back location sites, information on medicine lock boxes and how to receive RX disposal packets.
The October 2021 Take Back Day brought in 744,082 lbs (372 Tons) of medication. This brings the total amount of prescription drugs collected by DEA since the fall of 2010 to more than 15.2 million pounds of medication.
You can make a difference by keeping track of the medicine you have, by rethinking where and how you keep your medications in your home and by safely disposing of any unused medications. Read more about ways to secure your meds and safely dispose of them at home.
For more information on prescription drug abuse:
Adverse Drug Events (ADEs) are among the most common patient safety events. Many of these events and deaths are preventable. Visit our Web site for resources and related information.