Safely dispose of unneeded medicines during National Prescription Take Back Day
NATIONWIDE — Consumers with expired prescription medicines or vitamins will have the chance to drop them off at specified locations for the 27th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, this Saturday, Oct. 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at locations around the city. The U.S. Food & Drug Administration announced the program that is administered in tandem with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, which sponsors National Prescription Drug Take Back Day in communities nationwide.
The purpose of these take-back days is to remove potentially-harmful drugs, particularly prescribed narcotics or opioids, from those who could be poisoned, such as children or vulnerable family members, after the medicines have expired or are no longer needed. Most prescription and over-the-counter drugs — with the exception of inhalers or ones involving needles — are accepted. Before returning the medicines, consumers are urged to remove all personal-identifying information.
There are several collection points around Downtown Brooklyn, including the 84th Precinct headquarters; 78th Precinct in the Prospect Heights; 68th Precinct in Bay Ridge; 61st Precinct in Gravesend; 90th Precinct in North Brooklyn; and at pharmacy chains. Inquiries can also be made at 1-800-882-9539. Consumers can enter zip code and borough information to find local collection spots online.
The DEA reported that during a Take Back Day on Oct. 28, 2023, law enforcement partners collected 599,897 pounds of unneeded medications at 4,675 collection sites nationwide.
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