The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and more than 4,200 national and community law enforcement partners will hold a National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on Saturday, April 26, 2014.
Virginians can take their prescription pills to one of hundreds of collection sites across the Commonwealth between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.
The public can find a nearby collection site by visiting www.dea.gov, clicking on the “Got Drugs?” icon and entering a zip code. Or they can call 800-882-9539. Only pills and other solids, like patches, can be taken to the collection sites – liquids and needles or other sharps will not be accepted.
The take-back day promotes good environmental stewardship by preventing prescription medications from contaminating our natural resources. Rather than disposing of the drugs down the drain or in the trash, the public has a safe alternative for discarding the pills. Unused medications in homes also create a health and safety concern, because they are highly susceptible to accidental ingestion, theft, misuse and abuse.
Since DEA’s first event in September 2010, Americans have turned in more than 3.4 million pounds of pills.