Saturday, April 27 marks this year’s National Drug Take-Back Day.

For people battling opioid use disorder, the day signifies much more than a safe disposal of unused or expired medication. For nine straight years, it shows the nation’s efforts to rid the country of unneeded prescription pain medications, which have been credited with spreading the disease.

The Drug Enforcement Administration well knows the importance and impact of the national campaign for which they are charged with managing. According to their website, “the National Prescription Drug Take Back Day addresses a crucial public safety and public health issue… six million Americans misused controlled prescription drugs [and] a majority of abused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet.”

The event provides a convenient and anonymous, no-questions-asked opportunity for Americans to give up their medications in an attempt to prevent further addiction and overdose.

Watch the event’s PSAs at https://youtu.be/a_22kzuCOT4.

Last year’s Take-Back Day acquired more than 900,000 pounds of unused or expired medication, bringing the total amount of drugs collected since 2010 to 10,878,950 pounds. 

“Too often, unused prescription drugs find their way into the wrong hands. That’s dangerous and often tragic. That’s why it was great to see thousands of folks from across the country clean out their medicine cabinets and turn in – safely and anonymously – a record amount of prescription drugs,” the DEA website notes.

Safely and anonymously dispose of unwanted, unused or expired medication on Saturday, April 27 from 10 a.m., to 2 p.m. Find a collection site near you at https://takebackday.dea.gov. 

If you missed Take-Back Day, year-round drug disposal is available. Locate an authorized collector at https://apps2.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/pubdispsearch/spring/main?execution=e2s1.