National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, September 26 September 25, 2015 Local Events National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, prescription drugs 0 Tomorrow, September 26, is the 10th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. Roughly 350 locations throughout California will accept unwanted or unused medication from consumers and properly dispose of them. Proper disposal of unused prescription drugs, including controlled substances, helps prevent abuse and keeps pharmaceuticals out of landfills and waterways. This one-day event will provide patients with free, anonymous collection of unwanted and expired medicines. During previous Take Back events over the past five years, 4,823,251 pounds, or 2,411 tons, of drugs were collected nationwide. In addition to providing a safe, convenient and responsible means of disposal, the event also aims to educate the general public about the potential for abuse of these medications. Misuse of prescription drugs, including pain relievers, continues to be a significant problem in the United States. In California, 4.7% of persons aged 12 or older nationwide reported having used pain relievers nonmedically in the past year, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Survey on Drug Use and Health. SAMHSA data also reveals that 69% of people abusing prescription pain relievers got them through friends or relatives, a statistic that includes raiding the family medicine cabinet. Click here to find a Take Back Day collection site near you. Comments are closed.
