National Drug Take Back Day

On Saturday, October 29, 2011, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is hosting its third National Drug Take Back Day at many local law enforcement offices and other locations across the country.  Proper and safe disposal of medicine can help prevent: poisoning of children and pets; misuse by teenagers and adults; health problems from accidentally taking the wrong medicine, too much of the same medicine or medicine too old to work well; and medicines from entering rivers, lakes and streams.

To find a collection site near you, visit http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback/index.html.  The national number to call for the nearest National Take Back Initiative location is: 1-800-882-9539.

Some medicines poured down the drain or flushed down the toilet pass through wastewater treatment plants and enter rivers, lakes and streams which are often used as sources for community drinking water supplies. To read about how to protect our waters by disposing of medicines properly, go to http://water.epa.gov/scitech/swguidance/ppcp/upload/ppcpflyer.pdf.