Delaware – On Saturday, October 26, 2019 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the Delaware State Police and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) have scheduled their 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.

The April 2019 Take Back Day brought in 937,443 pounds (468.72 tons) of unused or expired prescription medication. This brings the total amount of prescription drugs collected by DEA since the fall of 2010 to 11,816,393 pounds.

Now, for the first time, DEA will also accept vaping devices and cartridges at any of its drop off locations during Take Back Day. It is important to note that DEA cannot accept devices containing lithium ion batteries. If batteries cannot be removed prior to drop-off, DEA encourages individuals to consult with stores that recycle lithium ion batteries.

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:

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 October 26th Take Back Day event, and to find year-round collection sites near you go to DEA’s official Take Back Day website.

Presented by Public Information Officer, Master Corporal Melissa Jaffe

Released: 102119 1417

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