What is National Drug Take Back Day?

National Drug Take Back Day is a day where Americans come together to prevent and control prescription drug abuse, something that Beaches Recovery is incredibly supportive of. Through the efforts of Take Back Day, approximately 914,256 pounds of drugs have been safely disposed of.

The impact of National Drug Take Back Day efforts is enormous. Some 6.2 million Americans have abused prescription medications. These were all controlled substances prescribed to patients by doctors. By becoming responsible for drug use and disposal, an enormous demographic avoids the ravages of drugs.

This is a day dedicated to the safe return and disposal of prescription medications. It influences a decrease in prescription drug abuse.

National Drug Take Back Day 2019 will be facilitated by the US Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Division through the Diversion Control Division. Only qualified law enforcement personnel will officiate the events. If you are a law enforcement agency and would like to host a collection site, contact your local POC.

When is National Drug Take Back Day?

This year’s National Drug Take Back Day is on April 24th, 2021, from 10 a.m. through 2 p.m. There are numerous locations individuals can go to for pickup, such as:

• Health departments
• Pharmacies (e.g., Walgreens)
• Outpatient clinics

To find the locations approved in your area, visit this site. Or reach out to Beaches Recovery at 866.605.0532, and one of our team members can point you in the right direction.

The Importance of Proper Drug Disposal

It is dangerous to throw away or flush down the toilet or sink expired prescriptions. Doing so can cause damage to the local water supply and, in some cases, create opportunities for individuals to collect discarded medications to abuse. Thus, individuals will need basic drug disposal education to participate in this event. Fortunately, there are plenty of avenues to explore that can provide the information necessary. Below, we walk you through the FDA-approved methods for prescription drug disposal. Always use proper protective cautions when handling pharmaceutical materials.

• Mix expired capsules with a biodegradable solution. Common mixes include dirt, coffee grounds, cat litter, and the like. These solutions should not be palatable. This decreases the chances of their being willingly ingested by someone else. Note: do not crush the capsules into this solution. Crushing the capsules releases the chemical ingredients from the pill and exposes them to people or animals in the local environment.
• Place the mixture you created into a container. Common appropriate containers include plastic bags, trash bags, sealing sandwich boxes, or the like. Anything that can keep the mixture contained. Please do not store or dispose of within reach of small children.
• Throw the container into a trash bin labeled for waste and not recycling.
• Destroy labels that use personal information, like prescription labels on medicine packaging. Place destroyed labels in the same container as uncrushed pills.

Special Note: For medications with “immediate flush” warnings, please discard these at an appropriate Takeback location instead of flushing them into sewage whenever possible. Flushing medication is potentially harmful to your local environment. The Drugs@FDA archives list medications that are safe to flush and also provide more detailed disposal information. You can also always wait until the next National Drug Take Back Day.

Beaches Recovery – Custom Treatment Services

At Beaches Recovery, we believe in treating the mind, body, and spirit. We offer many programs for loved ones struggling with drug addiction so that their recovery needs can be met:

• Extended care
• Partial hospitalization
• Outpatient rehab
• Intensive outpatient program
• Inpatient rehab

We’re strong supporters of National Drug Take Back Day because we are enthusiastic about helping those abusing drugs or alcohol. If you or someone you know could use our help, please reach out to Beaches Recovery at 866.605.0532, or contact us online.