Utica NY- October 23rd is National Prescription Take-Back Day. Center for Family Life and Recovery (CFLR) will be partnering with Oneida County Sheriff Department, Utica Police Department, Rome Police Department, and The Parkway Center in Verona Beach to host drug take-back events. These drive-through events will happen rain or shine. Participants are asked to stay in their vehicles and follow signs to drop off their meds and to wear masks at all times. There will be Hope bags distributed and other giveaways.
Date: October 23, 2021
Time: 10am to 2pm
Locations:
- Union Station: 321 Main Street, Utica
- Westagate Plaza: 1148 Erie Blvd W, Rome
Date: October 27, 2021
Time: 11-1PM (UPDATED!)
Location: 50 Forward Verona Beach: 6734 NYS Route 13, Verona
With opioid overdose deaths increasing during the pandemic, the Drug Enforcement Administration announces a National Prescription Take-Back Day for October 23rd. At its last Take Back Day on April 20, 2021, DEA collected expired, unwanted, and unused prescription medications, with the public turning in 420 tons of unwanted drugs at over 5,050 collection site locations nationwide. Over the 10-year span of Take Back Day, DEA has brought in more than 7,220 tons of prescription drugs. With studies indicating a majority of abused prescription drugs come from family and friends, including from home medicine cabinets, clearing out unused medicine is essential.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. has seen an increase in overdose deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic, with 83,544 Americans overdosing during the 12-month period ending July 1, 2020, the most ever recorded in a 12-month period. The increase in drug overdose deaths appeared to begin prior to the COVID-19 health emergency but accelerated significantly during the first months of the pandemic.
The public can drop off potentially dangerous prescription medications at collection sites which will adhere to local COVID-19 guidelines and regulations in order to maintain the safety of all participants and local law enforcement.
DEA and its partners will collect tablets, capsules, patches, and other solid forms of prescription drugs. Liquids (including intravenous solutions), syringes and other sharps, and illegal drugs will not be accepted. DEA will continue to accept vaping devices and cartridges at its drop off locations provided lithium batteries are removed.
Helping people dispose of potentially harmful prescription drugs is just one way DEA is working to reduce addiction and stem overdose deaths.
Learn more about these types of events at www.takeback.dea.gov or by calling CFLR at 315.733.1709.
