National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day

National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day aims to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means for disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the general public about the potential abuse of medications.

Prescribed medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, putting public safety at risk as the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses from these drugs are rising.

Pharmaceutical drugs can be just as dangerous as street drugs when taken without a prescription or doctor supervision. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained – largely by teenagers – from the home medicine cabinets of family and friends. In addition, disposing of unused medicines by flushing them down the toilet, or simply throwing them in the trash can pose health serious and environmental hazards. Improperly disposed medications can be retrieved and illegally sold, or contaminate our local water supply.

To participate in this Take-Back Day, you can bring your expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs for safe disposal on Saturday, April 30, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (or year-round in the case of some police departments)t o our district’s collection sites:

Vernon Police Department

725 Hartford TPKE, Vernon, CT

Coventry Police Department

1585 Main Street, Coventry, CT

The DEA cannot accept liquids, needles or sharps; only pills or patches.

This service is free and anonymous, no questions asked. If you are unable to make it to one of the local drop offs on April 30, please call the DEA Office of Diversion Control at 1-800-882-9539.

The DEA also advises you to dispose of old prescriptions by taking the following steps:

1. Take the meds out of their bottles

2. Mix them with something “unappealing” like used kitty litter or coffee grounds

3. Seal them in a bag or disposable container, and throw it away

The proper disposal of unused drugs saves lives and protects the environment. Please take advantage of this opportunity to be a steward of our community.

As always, if you have any questions please feel free to contact me at Tim.Ackert@hosuegop.ct.gov or (860) 240-8700.