Contact: Community Relations Manager Randy Beehler – 901-1142 – randy.beehler@yakimawa.gov
All across the U.S., people with outdated, unused, or unwanted prescription drugs got rid of them on Saturday, September 29th during the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (“DEA”) fifth “National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day”.
People dropped off old prescription drugs at a Yakima drop-off site located in the parking lot at 207 South 3rd Street across from the Richard A. Zais, Jr. Center for Law and Justice. The drugs were then disposed of free of charge.
The DEA conducted its first National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day in 2010. Since then, participation in the event has consistently grown. In total, almost 774 tons of prescription drugs have been turned in through the program.
The DEA began the Take-Back Day program in order to curb the misuse of prescription drugs – a growing problem in the U.S. More Americans currently abuse prescription drugs than the combined number of those who use cocaine, hallucinogens, and heroin.
The Take-Back Day program also helps reduce the number of prescription drugs that are improperly disposed of by being flushed down the toilet or thrown out with the trash. Prescription drugs that end up in the sewer system or landfills can result in contamination of both groundwater and surface water supplies.
“Having people bring prescription drugs that they are not using to a Take-Back Day drop-off site is a much better alternative to getting rid of them any other way,” said City of Yakima Wastewater Pretreatment Supervisor Arlene Carter. “The drop-off sites provide a free, anonymous, no questions asked option to dispose of old pills and medicines safely.”
For more information about National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, check out the DEA’s website – http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback/index.html
Yakima Site Part of Successful Prescription Drug Take-Back Day (pdf)