Prescription Drug Take Back Day – TODAY

Today is National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. Rhode Island is participating with confidential drop off locations in nearly every community, or only a short drive away. Take some time today and go through those medicine cabinets, bureaus, pocketbooks, and bathroom closets – you might think you don’t have a lot of medication, but most of us will end up with a large bag to throw away.

Do not throw medications of any kind – including liquids – into the trash. Do not toss medications down the garbage disposal or drop them in your weekly garbage collections.

Not only can drugs harm the environment, but too often, unused prescription drugs find their way into the wrong hands. That’s dangerous and often tragic. Today’s the day where thousands will be cleaning out those storage areas and turning in – safely and anonymously – a record amount of prescription drugs.

9.7 million people misused prescription pain relievers, 4.9 million people misused prescription stimulants, and 5.9 million people misused prescription tranquilizers or sedatives in 2019.

A majority of misused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet.

The DEA’s Take Back Day events provide an opportunity to prevent drug addiction and overdose deaths.

Collections will be held at 565 sites around the Rhode Island region from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday – TODAY. For most Rhode Island communities, the closest site will be the local police department. Some pharmacies have drop off locations permanently located near the pharmacy area. Visit the DEA’s website or call 800-882-9539 to find the closest site.

In most cases, police departments will have a drop box in the lobby of the station, with no questions asked. The service is free of charge.

Here is a list – do it today…