Vape Pens Accepted In 2019 Drug Take-Back Day

Every year on National Drug Take Back Day, people across the United States head to local police departments to dispose of unwanted prescription and over-the-counter drugs. But this year, amid a national outbreak of vaping-related illnesses, drug disposal stations also will accept vape products.

The Drug Enforcement Agency, which hosts drug take-back day, announced recently it will take e-cigarettes, vape cartridges and vape pens — as long as any batteries have been removed.
As of mid-October, the Centers for Disease Control had counted 1,479 vaping-related lung illnesses across the country, and 33 deaths in 24 states.

In Rhode Island, two cases of vaping-related illnesses have been reported, the state's Department of Health said.

On Sept. 25, Governor Gina Raimondo declared a statewide ban of flavored e-cigarettes in Rhode Island, saying that it was "time to take action." Earlier this week, the executive order was challenged in a lawsuit filed by a vaping organization.

"No one compound or ingredient has emerged as the cause of these illnesses to date; and it may be that there is more than one cause of this outbreak. Many different substances and product sources are still under investigation. The specific chemical exposure(s) causing lung injuries associated with e-cigarette product use, or vaping, remains unknown at this time," the CDC said.

The DEA has been hosting drug take-back events for about nine years. The events aim to remove controlled substances like prescription opioids and amphetamines, but almost any legal drug will be accepted. The events are free and anonymous.

On Saturday, police departments and other locations across the state are hosting drug take-back events from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• Barrington Police Department
• Bristol Police Department
• Burrillville Police Department
• Central Falls Police Department
• Charlestown Police Department
• Coventry Police Department
• Cranston Police Department
• Cranston Senior Center
• Cranston Walmart: 1776 Plainfield Pike
• Cumberland Police Department
• Foster Police Department
• Glocester Police Department
• Hopkinton Police Department
• Jamestown Police Department
• Lincoln Police Department
• Little Compton Police Department
• Middletown Police Department
• Narragansett Police Department
• Newport Police Department
• Newport Walmart Pharmacy: 199 JT Connell Highway
• North Kingstown Police Department
• North Providence Police Department
• Pawtucket Police Department
• Providence Police Department
• Providence Walgreens Pharmacy: 1 Pocasset Ave.
• Providence Walgreens Pharmacy: 295 Academy Ave.
• Providence Walgreens Pharmacy: 533 Elmwood Ave.
• Providence Walmart: 51 Silver Spring St.
• Smithfield Police Department
• South Kingstown Police Department
• Tiverton Police Department
• Warren Police Department
• Warwick Police Department
• West Warwick Police Department
• West Warwick Youth Center
• Westerly Police Department
• Westerly Walmart: 258 Post Rd.
• Woonsocket CVS Pharmacy: 1054 Cass Ave.
• Woonsocket Police Department

Patch Editor Neal McNamara contributed to this report.