Saturday is National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day

The Drug Enforcement Administration’s National Drug Take-Back Day is set for Saturday, Oct. 26, as the event aims to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of medications.

The event will take place across the country from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Earlier this year, the Atlanta Police Department collected 89.2 pounds of prescription pills for the sixth national take back initiative. The APD is encouraging citizens to participate by donating unused or expired medication at any precinct.

• Zone 1 Precinct, 2315 Donald Lee Hollowell Pkwy N.W. 
• Zone 2 Precinct, 3120 Maple Drive N.E. 
• Zone 3 Precinct, 880 Cherokee Avenue S.E. 
• Zone 4 Precinct, 1125 Cascade Cr. S.W. 
• Zone 5 Precinct, 200 Spring St. N.W. 
• Zone 6 Precinct, 2025 Hosea L. Williams Dr. N.E.

This will be the seventh national take-back day, and will be held at thousands of sites all over the country. Search here by zip code for a collection site near you. Inquiries can also be made at 1-800-882-9539.

Prescription drug abuse is among the fastest-growing drug problems in the country, according to the Office of National Drug Control Policy. 

According to the 2011 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health, twice as many Americans regularly abused prescription drugs than the number of those who regularly used cocaine, hallucinogens, heroin, and inhalants combined.