Memphis, TN – The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will host the 28th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, April 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event, in collaboration with over 4,400 law enforcement partners, offers communities across the United States an anonymous way to dispose of unnecessary prescription medications.
The initiative aims to reduce the risk of prescription drug misuse by encouraging safe disposal of expired, unwanted, or unused medications. Nationally, nearly 4,500 collection sites will be available for this purpose. Acting DEA Administrator Derek S. Maltz emphasized the community's safety, stating, “Disposing of unneeded, expired medications helps us protect the safety and health of our communities.” He added that National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is possible thanks to the support of local and state law enforcement partners and community groups.
Jim Scott, DEA Louisville Division's Special Agent in Charge, encouraged participation, noting, “I encourage everyone to join us this weekend and participate in Take Back Day. The small act of cleaning out your home medicine cabinet can have a big impact on the safety of our community by keeping addictive medications away from those who might abuse them.”
Accepted items include tablets, capsules, patches, and other forms of solid prescription drugs. Liquids like cough syrups must remain sealed in their original containers. Locations will also accept vaping devices and cartridges if lithium batteries are removed. Syringes, sharps, and illicit substances will not be collected.
Opioids such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, codeine, and morphine are frequently involved in misuse cases, according to The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. In the previous year, DEA and partners collected nearly 630,000 pounds of medications in October 2024, contributing to a total of over 19.2 million pounds collected since the program began in 2010.
For more information on collection sites, visit www.DEATakeBack.com. For those unable to attend on April 26, nearly 17,000 pharmacies, hospitals, clinics, and law enforcement locations offer year-round drug disposal options.