Drug Take Back Day Broadens Efforts Nationwide

The DEA's 28th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is scheduled for Saturday, April 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., offering thousands of collection sites across the U.S. for safe, anonymous disposal of unused, expired, or unwanted prescription drugs. Police departments and local organizations in cities such as Hoboken, Tewksbury, Newport, Baton Rouge, Dearborn, Tulsa, and Central Texas are participating to help prevent prescription misuse, accidental ingestion, and environmental harm. Accepted items now include tablets, capsules, patches, and certain vaping devices (with batteries removed), while syringes and illicit drugs are not accepted. The initiative has already removed over 19 million pounds of medications from communities nationwide. Organizers emphasize the risks of leftover prescriptions, including accidental overdoses and pediatric poisonings, and encourage communities to use the DEA's online locator tool to find local drop-off sites. The event also aims to promote conversations about prescription safety and substance misuse prevention.