DEA Drug Takeback Day Planned For Saturday: Find An Event Near You

OLYMPIA, WA — Washingtonians with leftover prescription drugs or vape products are invited to get rid of them at a series of drug take back events set for later this week.

Saturday, April 30 will be the Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) annual drug take back day, and agencies across Puget Sound will be participating with events of their own. Most events will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. During that time, organizers will accept prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, vape pens, and other e-cigarette devices for disposal. Medication can stay in its original container— you don't need to pull the label, you don't even have to remove the batteries from vape pens if you don't want to.

“Participating in these take back events is one way people can help tackle the opioid crisis and protect loved ones,” said Dr. Charissa Fotinos, HCA deputy chief medical officer and interim state Medicaid director. “With the increase in drug overdoses in our state and nationally, and the stress, strain, and anxiety of the last several years, it’s more important than ever to do our part to keep communities safe.”

Unattended opioids are ripe for misuse, and Washington is still in the throes of an opioid addiction epidemic.

At the peak of the opioid epidemic in 2011, Washingtonians had been prescribed a combined 112 million daily doses of opioids — 16 opioids for every person in the state. In 2015, Asotin, Clallam, Grays Harbor, Columbia, Garfield, Pend Orielle, Lewis and Benton Counties had more opioid prescriptions than living people. 8,000 Washingtonians died of opioid overdoses between 2006 and 2017.

You can find a drug take back event in your zip code by using their online event finder. More than 74 agencies are participating in the Seattle area, including CVS pharmacies, Bartell Drugs and Swedish Medical Center.