DEA's Drug Take Back Day tackles addiction with public medication disposal

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The Drug Enforcement Administration is set to hosts a Drug Take Back Day on Saturday to prevent addiction and reduce overdose deaths.

This bi-annual event offers free, anonymous disposal of unneeded medications at more than 4,000 local drop-off locations nationwide, according to the DEA.

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“Oftentimes we find that the whole medicine cabinet, unknowingly becomes a drug dealer. When do people have privacy in our homes? It’s when they go into our bathrooms," said Brian McNeal, public information officer with the DEA Detroit Division. "So if we can get those pills out of our medicine cabinet. We can remove the fuel from current addictions and stop new ones before they even begin.”

Drug overdose deaths are claiming more than 300 lives every day.

A majority of people who misused a prescription medication obtained the medicine from a family member or friend, according to a report published by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Michigan ranks third in the number of partners and take back locations in the country, according to McNeal.

A location finder and partner toolbox are available at www.DEATakeBack.com for easy reference to collection sites.

Year-round receptacles are available at more than 17,000 pharmacies, hospitals, police departments, and business.