DEA Rx Drug Takeback is happening this Saturday

The Drug Enforcement Administration will host its 25th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day this weekend with more than 4,000 drop-off locations nationwide, including more than 40 in New Mexico.

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 28, the DEA and local law enforcement agencies are providing the public with an opportunity to discard potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs. There are seven dropoff locations in Sandoval County, including the Walmart on Unser Blvd., Rio Rancho Police headquarters (500 Quantum Road) and Sandoval County Sheriff’s Office (1500 Idalia Road).

“This event is so important for our community as it serves as an opportunity for unwanted prescription medications to be removed from homes and also serves as a safeguard for the environment,” New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez said. “Many times folks throw their unwanted medications down the toilet which contaminates our ground water and surface water. I encourage those in the Santa Fe area to stop by this event and help keep our community safe from opioids and other prescribed drugs.”

For more than a decade, Take Back Day has helped Americans easily rid their homes of unneeded medications — those that are old, unwanted or expired. These medications can be a gateway to addiction and have helped fuel the opioid epidemic. According to a report published by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), a majority of people who use a prescription medication for a nonmedical purpose obtained that medication from a family member or friend.

“Every day, the men and women of the DEA work to protect Americans from deadly drugs and drug poisonings,” said DEA Administrator Anne Milgram. “National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is one of the ways we can help prevent addiction and deaths from opioids.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that in the United States, 107,735 American lives were lost to drug poisoning between August 2021 and August 2022.

In partnership with local law enforcement, Take Back Day has removed more than 8,650 tons of medication from circulation since its inception.

Collection sites will not accept syringes, sharps and illicit drugs. Liquid products, such as cough syrup, should remain sealed in their original container. The cap must be tightly sealed to prevent leakage.