Attorney General Ashley Moody stressed the importance of participating in the upcoming Drug Take Back Day, urging Floridians to safely dispose of expired or unwanted medications. She emphasized, "Florida is losing thousands of people to drug overdose deaths every year." The event is a way for individuals to help prevent misuse of prescription medications, which can often lead to fatal addictions.
During the previous National Drug Take Back Day, law enforcement officers collected nearly 600,000 pounds of unwanted prescription drugs across the country, with over 22,000 pounds collected in Florida alone. Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw highlighted the success of Operation Pill Drop, which gathered more than 3,100 pounds of unwanted medication in 2023 through 12 year-round pill-drop boxes in the county.
While there has been a decrease in opioid deaths in Palm Beach County from 2021 to 2022, the opioid crisis is still a significant issue. Nationwide, more than 112,000 Americans died due to opioid overdose, with a concerning increase in lethal doses of fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills reported by the DEA.
Floridians are encouraged to visit DEA.gov/TakeBackDay to learn more about National Drug Take Back Day and find participating locations. Additionally, Attorney General Moody developed the Dose of Reality Florida website to educate the public about the dangers of opioid misuse and provide resources for those in need.
The collaboration between Attorney General Moody and the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office serves as a reminder of the ongoing battle against the opioid crisis and the importance of community participation in initiatives like the National Drug Take Back Day.