DEA to Take Back Your Prescription Drugs

If you have old prescription drugs, this weekend is your chance to dispose of them safely.

The Drug Enforcement Agency is hosting its fifth annual Prescription Drug Take-Back Day Saturday, Sept. 29 from 10a.m. until 2p.m. at locations through out Gwinnett County. The drop-off location in Lawrenceville will be at the Gwinnett County Sheriff's Office at 2900 University Parkway.

The Take-Back Day helps prevent prescription pill abuse and theft by encouraging residents to clean out their medicine cabinets of potentially dangerous expired, unused, or unwanted prescription drugs.

In the four previous Take-Back Days, the DEA collected more than 1.6 million pounds of prescription drugs nationwide.

“The growing response to DEA’s national Take Back Day events demonstrates that the public understands, and wants to help combat, the epidemic of prescription drug abuse in America.  They recognize the need to rid their homes of dangerous controlled substance medications that teens and others steal, abuse, and sell,” said DEA Administrator Michele Leonhart in a release.  “DEA will continue holding these national Take Back Day events as long as they are needed to prevent diversion, addiction, and overdose deaths.”

People can drop off their unwanted medications at the drop-off locations for free anonymously. No questions will be asked.

To find a drop-off location near you, please visit the DEA's website.

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