Drug Take Back Day To Collect Surplus Pills In NYC

NEW YORK – Unused prescription drugs piling up in medicine cabinets are a powerful lure that contribute to the opioid crisis that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has called a public health emergency.

This Saturday, April 27, is your chance to get rid of them safely.

The federal Drug Enforcement Administration is working with law enforcement agencies across the country in the 17th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. The NYPD will collect unused prescription drugs from several locations around the city.

Find the nearest to you here.

The service is free and anonymous. All pills will be accepted, but liquids and needles can’t be taken during this event. The Environmental Protection Agency offers guidance on disposing of sharps and other medical waste. The Food and Drug Administration offers tips on getting rid of liquid medicines that are expired or no longer needed.

Now in its ninth year, the collections have yielded more than 11 million pounds — that’s more than 5,400 tons — of prescription drugs nationwide.

YOUR STATE collected 46,660 pounds of unwanted prescription drugs during the October 2018 take-back day, contributing to the total haul of more than 457 tons nationwide.

DEA Acting Administrator Uttam Dhillon said helping people dispose of unwanted, unused or expired prescription medications is one of the ways the agency works to break the cycle of addiction and drug overdose deaths.

“Addiction causes a tremendous amount of pain and suffering, not just for those addicted to drugs, but also for their families and friends,” Dhillon said in a news release.

It’s not just opioids that pose dangers. Expired prescription drugs can be less effective or risky due to changes over time in chemical composition. Some expired medications are at risk of bacterial growth, according to the Food and Drug Administration. Expired antibiotics may not treat infections, leading to more serious illnesses and antibiotic resistance, the DEA said.

Prescription drug abuse often starts with a legal prescription, and the majority of drug abusers say they get their drugs from family and friends, including the home medicine cabinet, the DEA said.