WASHINGTON — The DEA collected more than 242,000 pounds of unwanted prescription drugs from the public at more than 4,000 sites in 50 states as part of its “Take-Back” campaign held on Sept. 25.
“The Take-Back Campaign was a stunning nationwide success that cleaned out more than 121 tons of pills from America’s medicine cabinets, a crucial step toward reducing the epidemic of prescription drug abuse that is plaguing this nation,” said DEA Acting Administrator Michele M. Leonhart.
“Thanks to our state and local law enforcement and community partners—and the public—we not only removed these dangerous drugs from our homes, but also educated countless thousands of concerned citizens about the dangers of drug abuse.”
The DEA said some of the folks showing up included a Troy, Mo. a man who brought his kitchen drawer full of medication to empty at a collection site. The agency said a woman in Jacksonville, Ill., brought in nearly 50 years’ worth of medicines to a site.
