National Drug Take Back Day is coming up on Saturday, April 22, 2023. Local communities across the state and nation will be partnering with the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) to host awareness events to educate the public on safe medication return and provide an opportunity for community members to dispose of leftover or expired prescription and over-the-counter drugs freely, safely, and conveniently. In addition, vape pens and other e-cigarette devices with batteries removed can be collected, too. This event marks the 24th National Drug Take Back Day. To date, over 16 million pounds of medications have been collected through National Drug Take Back Days.
Interested in seeing the results of past National Drug Take Back Days? Visit the results page on the DEA’s Drug Take Back Day website.
Why is Safe Medication Return important?
Promptly removing leftover or expired medications from your home at a safe medication drop-off kiosk or secure mail back option prevents the risk of misuse by a friend, family member or other visitors in your home. In addition, safely disposing of medications keeps them out of the environment, protecting our water and soil.
How can you get involved? There are multiple ways you can get involved:
- Participate in your local community’s Drug Take Back Day event.
- Find a permanent medication drop-off kiosk near you to safely dispose of any leftover or expired medications. You can find a take back location near you by visiting https://medtakebackwashington.org/ or calling 844-482-5322 (844-4-TAKE-BACK).
- Learn more about opioid misuse prevention by visiting the following campaign websites:
- Starts With One – campaign designed to inform and educate young adults, their parents, and older adults about the dangers of opioid misuse and importance of safe storage, use and disposal.
- Tribal Opioid Solutions – provides educational resources for tribes and tribal organizations working to address opioid prevention, overdose response and treatment.
In Washington, every day can be drug take back day! Can’t participate in this year’s Take Back Day? Don’t fret as safe medication return can occur on any day here in Washington State! The two safe medication return program operators, Inmar Intelligence, Inc. and MED-Project have launched a one-stop website and toll-free number for Washingtonians to locate permanent safe medication return kiosks and order free mail-back supplies and educational materials.
- Website: https://medtakebackwashington.org/
- Toll-free number: 844-482-5322 (or 844-4-TAKE-BACK)
Additional resources:
- DEA’s Take Back Day webpage – filled with information regarding National Drug Take Back day, DEA’s Public Service Announcements and additional partner resources for spreading awareness around National Drug Take Back Day.
- Washington’s Department of Health Safe Medication Return webpage – filled with resource’s related to the state’s safe medication return program.
- University of Washington ADAI’s Stop Overdose webpage – filled with resources related to preventing and responding to overdose.