General Pharmacy News

National Drug Take-Back Day is Sat., April 26

Posted on April 17, 2014

Consumers across the county will have another opportunity to safely and legally dispose of unwanted, unused medications during the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) eighth National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on Saturday, April 26, 2014, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. This one-day event will provide residents with no-cost, anonymous collection of unwanted and expired medicines. Information regarding specific Take-Back Event locations, coordinated by the DEA and provided by law enforcement agencies, tribal enforcement partners, and community organizations, can now be found using the collection site locator [[https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/NTBI/ntbi-pub.pub?_flowExecutionKey=_cBD779759-A749-3256-B39A-27795F39A7BB_kC9A5DA73-2660-63B2-3D47-8FB2338B2069]].

Last October, Americans turned in 324 tons (over 647,000 pounds) of prescription drugs at over 4,114 sites operated by the DEA and its thousands of state and local law enforcement partners. When those results are combined with what was collected in its seven previous Take Back events, DEA and its partners have taken in over 3.4 million pounds—more than 1,700 tons—of pills.

Visit the National Take-Back Drug Initiative for more information, and click on “Partnership Toolbox” to download event posters, handouts, and other promotional materials in English and/or Spanish.

Other Helpful Resources:

FDA Guidelines for Proper Medication Disposal
Resources for disposal of unwanted medications, including a list, by county, of permanent and temporary disposal sites are available on the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation-Office of Sustainable Practices website.

Are you participating in National Drug Take-Back Day on Saturday, April 26?

TPA is gathering information about the profession’s efforts to ensure medication safety. If you take part in the upcoming National Drug Take-Back Day, please take a moment to briefly tell TPA about your participation: How were you involved? How did people respond? Were you pleased with the turnout? We’re interested in any information you care to provide. Thanks!