Kentuckians are urged to clean out their medicine cabinets by participating in the DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, scheduled nationwide on Saturday, April 24, 2021, from 10 am to 2 pm.
“In 2019, we lost 1,316 Kentucky residents to overdose deaths, with a significant number of those overdose deaths caused by opioids,” said Governor Andy Beshear. “Every step we make to prevent a loved one from misusing or abusing prescription drugs is worth the fight. National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day is one of those easy steps we can make to protect all Kentuckians.”
For citizens unable to bring their medications to designated locations on April 24, Operation UNITE maintains 48 permanent medication dropboxes in 34 counties in or adjacent to its service area across southern and eastern Kentucky, stated Nancy Hale, UNITE President/CEO. These boxes are available during regular business hours in conjunction with police agencies and local governments.
Since October 2012, UNITE has collected 40,476 pounds – more than 20.23 tons – of medications through its take-back program.
To view dropbox locations in the UNITE service region click here.
The National Prescription Drug Take Back Day aims to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of medications.
According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet.
“Every year Kentucky participates in National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day at locations across the commonwealth, such as the local health department, convenience stores, and law enforcement agencies,” said Van Ingram, Executive Director of the Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy. “With it being sprint time, now is a great time to clean out our medicine cabinets, and this nationwide day is a good reminder for all of us to safely dispose of any expired, unused, or unwanted prescription drugs.”
In years past, Kentucky has collected more than 160,000 pounds of prescription medications during this event. For a list of locations that will be participating this year, please visit ODCP’s website.
For a complete list of the 193 different drug disposal locations in 116 Kentucky counties, click here.
