DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back Program, September 25
DEA is asking for your help. As you know, prescription drugs are being misused and abused at alarming rates throughout the United States. As part of our efforts to address this problem, DEA will be collecting potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs for destruction at sites nationwide on Saturday, September 25th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. local time, all over the United States. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.
This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Many Americans are not aware that medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are increasing at alarming rates, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, many Americans do not know how to properly dispose of their unused medicine, often flushing them down the toilet or throwing them away - both potential safety and health hazards.
Collection sites can be found by going to the link found at www.GetSmartAboutDrugs.com or www.JustThinkTwice.com. This site will be continuously updated with new take-back locations. You can help make this event a success by sharing information about the program with your membership, partner organizations, and others who are concerned about prescription drug abuse. In addition, anyone interested in helping to have a take back event in their community are encouraged to contact their local police or sheriff's office, or by calling the appropriate DEA Field office - http://www.justice.gov/dea/agency/domestic.htm.
In addition to links from the above web sites, we have attached:
- A web button you can place on your web site, encouraging visitors to participate and find out more information about National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. The button should be programmed to link to http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/takeback/
- Scripts for PSAs that can be used to promote the take back day
- Sound bites that can be used when talking with the media about the program
- Background information on the DEA Diversion program. The Office of Diversion is coordinating this effort.
- A fact sheet on prescription drug abuse
- DEA press release about the program
- Q & A to provide more background on the program
Thank you in advance for any support you or your organization can provide for this important event. If you have any questions, or need additional information, please don't hesitate to contact DEA at 202/307-7936.
RADM Scott Giberson
Chief Professional Officer, Pharmacy
U.S. Assistant Surgeon General
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