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Have you ever wondered how to get rid of an unfinished bottle of prescription drugs? Some people throw them away. Others put them down the sink or flush them down the toilet. The DEA says do not do that anymore.
USA TODAY

Drug Take Back Day set for Oct. 27(Photo: Submitted)

If you have not used prescription drugs in your medicine cabinet, this Saturday is a good time to clean them out. Local police departments and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration are cooperating for the 16th annual National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, expecting to collect more than 10 million pounds of prescription pills and capsules.

Bridging the pain of the opium epidemic and the growing market prescription of painkillers and links to illegal opiates, children, pets and people with drug addictions. Many prescription drugs can be harmful – even deadly – if consumed under the wrong conditions.

"We know that a majority of patients are suffering from this," said Acting DEA Administrator Uttam Dhillon. "If we reduce the availability of those who have not used drugs, we need to use them, and we are at risk of abuse, addiction, overdose, and even death."

And while it may be necessary to reduce the risk of environmental damage. A take-back option such as the DEA's program is always the best option for getting rid of unused prescriptions, notes the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. postponement. "The known risk of harm, including death, to humans of certain exposure to certain medicines, especially potent opioid medicines, far outweighs any potential risk to humans or the environment of flushing those drugs when a take-back option is not readily available," the agency said.

In the last year's take-back event, the DEA reported collecting 9.9 million pounds (about 5,000 tons) of nationwide prescriptions. The upcoming event includes more than 5,400 collection sites, in cooperation with more than 4,400 partner law enforcement agencies. You can bring in your prescriptions between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m .; the service is free and anonymous. (The event does not include liquids, needles or sharps.)

The DEA has a website at http://takebackday.dea.gov/, which has a search feature to find a location. Using the tool, I found 14 sites within a 50-mile radius of Jackson, including most local police departments. Some sites are located near local shopping and dining destinations, such as the Outlets of Mississippi, where the DEA is set up at a special point in front of the Adidas store. The Jackson Police Department is providing a "drive-through" collection in the city of Jackson, and several police departments are set up to collect points in the parking lot.

If you miss the opportunity this Saturday, there are many other options for getting rid of unused prescriptions. Many drug stores will accept old prescriptions for disposal, and some, such as many, have rentals, have kiosks where you can drop them off. As a last resort, you can get many medicines in the trash, but avoid doing this with opioids. For further advice, your pharmacist is a good source of information. If you can contact your local police or sheriff's department.

To find a local collection site, or for more info, visit http://takebackday.dea.gov/.

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Contact Bill Moak at [email protected].

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