.svg)
Celebrate National Prescription Drug Take Back Day this year on October 29, for a chance to clean out your medicine cabinets and contribute to a safer environment! This significant initiative was started by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration in 2010, with a sole aim to prevent drug misuse and safeguard our environment. It's a twice-a-year event that has collected over 6,800 tons of expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs since its inception. Yes, you read it right, tons! Take part in this wonderful movement and help us protect our communities, water systems and wildlife from the harmful impacts of improperly discarded medications. Let's take the initiative together, because every small effort counts!
<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'>Inception of the Event</div><div class='timeline-text'>The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) initiated National Prescription Drug Take Back Day to combat drug misuse and environmental harm.</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'>A National Response</div><div class='timeline-text'>Public participation in the event grew steadily, making it a recognized event throughout the United States and raising awareness about prescription drug misuse.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2014</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Widespread Collection Centers</div><div class='timeline-text'>Collection centers increased to over 5,500 nationwide, making disposal of unused and expired prescription medications more accessible to public.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2016</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Massive Collection Success</div><div class='timeline-text'>Dead Take Back Day collected approximately 450 tons of unused medications in a single event, demonstrating its significant impact.</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'>Impact on Drug Misuse</div><div class='timeline-text'>Initial studies indicated a reduction in drug misuse rates, highlighting the event’s role in promoting safer prescription practices.</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'>Over 6,800 Tons Collected</div><div class='timeline-text'>Cumulatively, over 6,800 tons of unwanted prescription drugs have been collected since the inception of the event, contributing to a safer environment.</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'>Clear out your medicine cabinet</h3><p class='facts-text'>Start by conducting a thorough clean-up of your medicine cabinet. Gather up any expired or unused medications and place them in a designated collection bag. Involving family members in this process can foster a greater understanding and appreciation for the importance of properly disposing of unwanted prescription drugs.</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'>Share on social media</h3><p class='facts-text'>Make sure to spread the word about National Prescription Drug Take Back Day through your social media networks. Use the hashtag #DrugTakeBackDay and engage your followers with pictures, stories, or facts about the harmful impact of misused or improperly discarded medications.</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'>Organize a community collection event</h3><p class='facts-text'>Connect with your local pharmacy, clinic, or local government to organize a community-wide collection event where people can safely dispose of their unwanted or expired prescription drugs. It’s a great way to connect with your neighbors and contribute to a safer 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'>Educate yourself and others</h3><p class='facts-text'>Use this day as an opportunity to educate yourself and others about the environmental and public health risks associated with mishandling prescription drugs, particularly opioid painkillers. Look out for online resources, webinars, or lectures on this topic to participate in.</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'>Donate to a reputable charity</h3><p class='facts-text'>Consider donating to a charity that works towards educating communities about drug safety or providing support to those affected by drug misuse. Your donation could help fund valuable resources such as hotlines, therapy sessions, or rehabilitation programs for those in need.</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 safety in the home and community</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is a vital initiative that promotes safe and responsible disposal of unused or expired prescription drugs. Misuse of such medicines poses major health risks including addiction, overdoses and even death. By participating, we contribute to safer homes and neighborhoods.</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'>Protects the environment</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Flushed, poured into drains or thrown in the trash, unused drugs can contaminate our water supply and harm aquatic life. National Prescription Drug Take Back Day creates awareness about this potential environmental hazard and provides a safe way to discard these substances, protecting our vital ecosystems.</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'>Fosters education and awareness</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>On National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, many of us learn about the dangers of prescription drug misuse and its far-reaching effects not just on individuals but on communities at large. The day fosters a culture of education and awareness, leading to more informed citizens making better decisions about prescription drug usage and disposal.</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'>Teens are Particularly Vulnerable to Prescription Drug Misuse</h3><p class='facts-content'>According to The Partnership at Drugfree.org and MetLife Foundation, a quarter of teens report having misused or abused a prescription drug in their lifetime.</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'>National Take Back Day is Internationally Recognized</h3><p class='facts-content'>From its roots in the U.S., National Prescription Drug Take Back Day has gained recognition internationally with many countries adopting similar campaigns to combat prescription drug misuse.</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'>Unused Medications are a Public Health Hazard</h3><p class='facts-content'>According to the Food and Drug Administration, most drug-related poisonings occur when children find unused medications at home.</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'>It's Illegal to Share Prescribed Medications</h3><p class='facts-content'>Many people are not aware that it is illegal to share prescribed medications, as many medications are specifically tailored to an individual's medical needs and can harm others.</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'>The Majority of Misused Prescription Drugs Are Obtained from Family and Friends</h3><p class='facts-content'>According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), a majority of misused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, often from home medicine cabinets.</p></div></div>
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
.svg){kind=small}
.svg){kind=small}
