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The time has come again for homes and communities to unite for a healthier, safer environment. Get ready for National Drug Take Back Day, celebrated on April 25! Initiated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in the United States in 2010, this day is of great significance. It provides a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs. Each year, millions of pounds of medication are collected, preventing possible misuse and protecting our waterways. Let's gear up to make this year's National Drug Take Back Day a resounding success! Together, we can make a difference!
<div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2010</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Inaugural Drug Take Back Day</div><div class='timeline-text'>The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in the United States launches the first National Drug Take Back Day.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2011</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Increased Participation</div><div class='timeline-text'>More homes and communities participate, increasing collected medication by over 50% from the previous year.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2012</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Year-Round Collection Sites</div><div class='timeline-text'>The DEA launches a program to maintain year-round collection sites, greatly increasing disposal opportunities.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2015</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Historic Collection Totals</div><div class='timeline-text'>National Drug Take Back Day achieves a historic total of 5.5 million pounds of collected medication.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2018</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Highest Collection in a Year</div><div class='timeline-text'>The program reaches new heights with over 1.85 million pounds of medication collected in a single event.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2020</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>COVID-19 Challenges</div><div class='timeline-text'>Despite challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the program adjusts to incorporate safe practices and continues to collect substantial quantities of medication.</div></div></div>
<div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>1</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Organize a community collection event</h3><p class='facts-text'>Contact your local law enforcement or health department to set up a local drop-off point for National Drug Take Back Day. You can turn this into a community event with music, food, and education about proper medication disposal.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>2</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Educate your neighborhood</h3><p class='facts-text'>Take this opportunity to educate your neighbors about the importance of proper medicine disposal. Create leaflets with facts and information and distribute them in your area. You can also use social media to spread the word.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>3</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Clear out your own medicine cabinet</h3><p class='facts-text'>Start at home by clearing out your own medicine cabinet. Dispose of any expired or unused medication at a local collection site. Do your part to prevent drug misuse and protect our environment.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>4</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Hold a virtual seminar</h3><p class='facts-text'>In light of social distancing measures, consider holding a virtual seminar educating about the dangers of expired or unneeded medication and how one can dispose of them properly. You can share your screen to demonstrate the process online.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>5</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Partner with a local pharmacy</h3><p class='facts-text'>Many pharmacies provide take-back services year-round. Partnering with them on this day can help amplify the message and provide location for proper disposal. You can also distribute educational materials provided by them, helping to increase knowledge in your community.</p></div></div>
<div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>A</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>Promotes a healthy and safe environment</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>National Drug Take Back Day promotes responsible disposal of expired or unused medication that could otherwise pose potential risks. This decreases the chances of accidental poisoning, misuse or overdose from that medication at home. It also minimizes environmental pollution by keeping these substances from directly impacting our water systems.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>B</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>Raise Awareness and Educates Public</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>This day isn't just about disposing drugs, but also about raising awareness and educating the public about medicine safety and the impacts of drug misuse or abuse. It provides an opportunity to engage in discussions, events and campaigns aimed at educating our communities about medicine management.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>C</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>Empowers Community participation</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>National Drug Take Back Day highlights the fact that every individual can play a part in creating a safer environment. Whether we're organizing a collection event, educating neighbors, clearing medicine cabinets or partnering with local pharmacies, we all have an opportunity to make a difference in our own communities.</p></div></div>
<div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>1</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>National Drug Take Back Day has collected over 14 million pounds of medications</h3><p class='facts-content'>Since its inception, the DEA's Take Back Day events have resulted in more than 14 million pounds (7,000 tons) of collected medications, helping to prevent potential misuse and protect the environment.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>2</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Personal information is protected during Drug Take Back Day</h3><p class='facts-content'>During collection, the DEA adheres to strict privacy laws. All collections are performed with no personal identifiers, protecting users' personal information while disposing of their unwanted medications.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>3</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Drug Take Back Day directly addresses the opioid crisis</h3><p class='facts-content'>The event plays a significant role in preventing drug addiction and overdose deaths. Proper drug disposal, especially of prescription opioids, helps keep these drugs out of the wrong hands, thereby decreasing risks associated with opioid abuse.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>4</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>National Drug Take Back Day also allows the disposal of vaping devices</h3><p class='facts-content'>Since 2019, the DEA accepts vaping devices and cartridges at any of its drop off locations during National Drug Take Back Day, providing a safe disposal option for these increasingly common items.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>5</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Drug Take Back Day has seen increased participation over the years</h3><p class='facts-content'>Each year, participation increases across communities nationwide, demonstrating the people's increased understanding of the importance of safe and responsible drug disposal.</p></div></div>
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