Safely Dispose of Unused Drugs for National Prescription Drug Take Back Day

On Saturday, Oct. 27 the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is hosting its National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, providing the public with a safe, convenient, and responsible way to dispose of unwanted or expired medications.

There are nearly 100 drop-off locations across the state that will be accepting prescription drugs on Oct. 27 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., locations can be found on the DEA website. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked, so be sure to rid your house of the unwanted, expired, or unused medications.

If not disposed of properly, leftover prescription drugs can be misused and abused. According to the 2016 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 6.2 million Americans misused controlled prescription drugs. The study shows that a majority of abused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona (BCBSAZ) is committed to increasing access to safe drug disposal on National Drug Take Back Day and year-round. Through our partnership with Walgreens, we have more than 35 kiosks across the state where residents can safely dispose of medication at any time.

Americans turned in nearly one million pounds of prescription drugs during the Spring National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, keeping potentially harmful drugs out of the wrong hands, and helping to prevent drug addiction and overdose deaths. Be sure to find a location near you and participate in Drug Take Back Day.