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Delaware State Police

Superintendent Colonel Melissa Zebley


National Prescription Drug Take-Back Initiative-April 27, 2019


Date Posted: Wednesday, April 24th, 2019

Delaware – On Saturday, April 27, 2019 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the Delaware State Police and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) have scheduled their 17th National Take-Back Initiative (NTBI).  This is a great opportunity for those who missed the previous events, or who have subsequently accumulated unwanted, unused, and expired prescription drugs, to safely dispose of those medications. This is an opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs.  The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.

In October, 2018, Americans turned in 457 tons (over 914,000 pounds) of prescription drugs at over 5,800 sites operated by the DEA and more than 4,700 of its state and local law enforcement partners.

This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs.  Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines—flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash—both pose potential safety and health hazards.

The locations for planned disposal monitored by the Delaware State Police will be at the following (The DEA cannot accept liquids, needles or sharps, only pills or patches):

New Castle County

  • Delaware State Police Troop 2, 100 LaGrange Avenue, Newark, DE 19702

Kent County

  • Delaware State Police Troop 3, 3759 South State Street, Camden, DE 19934

Sussex County

  • Delaware State Police Troop 7, 18006 Coastal Highway, Lewes, DE 19958

For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs or about the April 27 Take Back Day event, go to the DEA Diversion website.

Presented by Public Information Officer, Master Corporal Melissa Jaffe

Released: 042419 1330

-End-

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