The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM), in partnership with the Office of National Drug Control Policy and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), encourages all Federal employees to participate in the National Prescription Drug “Take-Back” Day on Saturday, September 27, 2014, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.  Individuals wishing to dispose any of their medications can find a confidential collection location at: www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has declared prescription drug abuse and its consequences an epidemic, with more people dying from drug overdoses, primarily driven by prescription drug abuse, than in motor vehicle crashes.  In 2010, 22,134 people died from overdoses involving prescription drugs.  Furthermore, 69 percent of people who used pain relievers non-medically obtained the pain relievers from a friend or relative for free, a statistic that includes raiding the family medicine cabinet.  For these reasons, proper drug disposal is a key element of the Administration’s Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention Plan and an important way that each of us can contribute to this effort. 

Americans participating in the DEA’s eighth National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on April 26, 2014, turned in 780,158 pounds of unwanted or expired medications for safe and proper disposal at more than 6,072 take-back sites in all 50 states and U.S. territories.  The April 2014 collection was the largest since the establishment of the National Prescription Drug Take-Back initiative. 

One of OPM’s top priorities is to ensure the health and well-being of Federal employees.  We encourage you to join this commitment to improving public health and safety by participating and inviting others – friends, family, and neighbors – to take part in the National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on Saturday, September 27, 2014.