BEMIDJI -- The Drug Enforcement Administration and its national, tribal and community partners will host the 17th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 27, at more than 6,000 sites nationwide, including 116 locations in Minnesota. To date, 48 counties in Minnesota will host drop-off locations, including the Beltrami County Law Enforcement Center, 613 Minnesota Ave. NW in Bemidji. The Leech Lake and White Earth bands also will have collection sites.
Individuals can dispose of expired, unused and unwanted prescription medications. This service is free and anonymous, however DEA cannot accept liquids, needles or other sharp objects.
Every year, America is losing more than 70,000 people to drug overdose deaths. This is the equivalent of the capacity of Minnesota’s U.S. Bank Stadium with additional space needed for 4,000 more people, a release said.
In 2017, an estimated 3.2 million Americans age 12 or older reported misusing prescription pain relievers within the last month, making prescription opioids the second-most abused drug after marijuana in the United States. The majority of prescription drug abusers say they get their drugs free from friends and family, including from the home medicine cabinet.
Now in its ninth year, the National Prescription Drug Take Back Day initiative continues to remove high amounts of opioids and other medicines from homes, where they are vulnerable to misuse, theft or abuse by family members and visitors, including children and teens. Since the first National Prescription Drug Take Back Day held in 2010, the DEA has collected nearly 11 million pounds of medications, the release said.
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To locate a DEA Take Back site, visit www.DEATakeBack.com or call (800) 882-9539.
