On APRIL 30, 2011 from 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM,

most communities around the nation will be hosting national prescription drug take back days. This initiative is a crucial way to help prevent drug abuse. According to The Partnership for a Drug Free America, more than 2,500 teens are using prescription drugs to get high for the first time each day.

We need to help keep prescription drugs out of the hands of teens and tweens in order to stop addiction in its tracks. With more than 7,000,000 individuals using prescription drugs, there are far too many opportunities for teens and tweens to access drugs that allow them to take the first step into a downward spiral of addiction.

Working with local and state police throughout the country, the DEA held the first National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday September 25, 2010. It was such a success at removing controlled substances and keeping them from falling into the hands of tweens and teens, they are hosting another on April 30.

Last year, more than 3,000 local law enforcement agencies participated in the event and more than 121 TONS of pills were collected. If you were unable to participate in the first collection event, or have prescriptions sitting around your house that you no longer need or use, please find the closest local collection site and get rid of the risk.