National Prescription Drug TakeBack Day 

Written by: Sharon Farntrog

Last Updated: Oct 27, 2023

National Drug TakeBack Day is a program held in the United States, organized by the Diversion Control Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). It’s an initiative aimed at providing a safe, convenient, and responsible way to dispose of prescription drugs, while also educating the wider public about the abuse potential of prescription medications. All too often, unused and leftover prescription drugs find their way into the wrong hands – with dangerous and even tragic consequences. On National Drug TakeBack Day, people are encouraged to clean out their medicine cabinets and safely dispose of their unused, expired, or unneeded prescription medications.  

These Take-back events are usually held at designated public locations like community centers, pharmacies, and local police stations. These locations all have secure collection points where people can toss their unwanted or expired medications. The goal is to prevent the diversion and abuse of legal prescription drugs, especially by limiting the availability of common unused medications in regular households.  

Safe prescription drug disposal is so important because it reduces the risk of these seemingly innocent household drugs from falling into the wrong hands. As an aside, proper disposal of prescription drugs helps prevent the environmental pollution that occurs when medications are flushed down the toilet or thrown into the trash.  

This year’s National Drug TakeBack Day will be held on October 28^th, 2023. To find a safe disposal site near you, view the DEA’s Public Service Announcements, or learn more about their other initiatives, please visit https://www.dea.gov/takebackday.  

Together, we can make America a safer place! 

Sharon Farntrog is a medical addiction author with extensive research and writing experience. She is passionate about harnessing the power of the written word to continually spread awareness of substance abuse, (co-occurring) mental health disorders, and rehabilitation.