Nevada collected a total of 8,012 pounds of unused, unwanted or expired prescription drugs on the DEA's National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, April 28.
Nationwide, Americans set a record of close to one million pounds of potentially dangerous prescription drugs destroyed, making it the most successful event in DEA history.
“Turning in unused and expired prescription drugs at a Take Back Day collection site may have prevented someone from becoming an addict or helped save a life in Nevada,” said U.S. Attorney Elieson. “National Prescription Drug Take Back Day events continue to safely remove dangerous drugs from homes, where they could be stolen and abused by family members, including children and teens. I am grateful to every Nevadan and law enforcement agency who participated in the DEA Take Back Day.”
The DEA launched its prescription drug take back program when the Environmental Protection Agency and the Food and Drug Administration advised the public that disposing of unused medicines by flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash posed a potential safety and health hazard.
“National Prescription Drug Take Back is an opportunity for the community to come together and rid their medicine cabinets of unwanted prescription drugs,” said ASAC Neill. “The growing opioid epidemic must be confronted at every level - in our communities, across the State, and across our Nation - and Take Back events afford us a unique opportunity to collaborate at each level.”
The next take back day will be October 27.
