DEA collects record amount of meds at National Rx Take-Back-Day

WASHINGTON — Americans turned in a record number of unused prescription drugs last weekend, according to the Drug Enforcement Agency. The DEA on Monday said  the most recent National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day brought in the most unused prescription medications of any of its previous 10 events held since the initiative launched in 2010. 

 

All told, the DEA alongside state, local, tribal and local law enforcement collected 893,498 pounds of medications across nearly 5,400 collection sites in all 50 states. The 447 tons collected tops the 390 tons seen in spring 2014. The state with the highest number of medication collected was Texas, which collected 40 tons, followed by California’s 32 tons. Wisconsin, Illinois and Massachusetts also made the top five collection states, bringing in 31, 24 and 24 tons, respectively. 

 

“These results show that more Americans than ever are taking the important step of cleaning out their medicine cabinets and making homes safe from potential prescription drug abuse or theft,” DEA acting administrator Chuck Rosenberg said. “Unwanted, expired or unused prescription medications are often an unintended catalyst for addiction. Take-Back events like these raise awareness of the opioid epidemic and offer the public a safe and anonymous way to help prevent substance abuse.”

 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, eight-in-10 heroin users started by abusing prescription painkillers, moving to heroin when the stopped being able to afford or obtain them, and a majority of prescription drug abusers say they get their drugs from friends and family.