BILLINGS – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Montana joins the Drug Enforcement Administration in support of the National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, Oct. 29. The biannual event will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at sites across Montana, including two DEA sites in Billings. The event is an effort to rid homes of potentially dangerous, expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs.
This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in homes are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the United States are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses from these drugs.
“As we face an epidemic of opioid deaths, overdoses, and addictions, I urge Montanans to help protect their loved ones, friends, and community by disposing of unused or expired prescription drugs at collection sites across the state. The DEA’s Take Back Day is an important, safe, and convenient way to clean out your medicine cabinet,” U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
“Opiate overdoses are occurring throughout the United States, and Montana is no different. But we can all pitch in to help stop this epidemic,” said DEA Montana Resident Agent in Charge Stacy Zinn-Brittain. “I encourage everyone to clean out their medicine cabinets and nightstands of expired or unneeded prescription medicine, especially opioids, and to bring them to DEA’s designated Take Back locations. Together, we can make a difference.”
The DEA will have two drop off locations in Billings. The locations are the Elks Lodge, 934 Lewis Ave., and the U.S. Navy Operational Support Center, 2917 Gabel Road.
More than 27 sheriff’s offices, police departments and federal agencies across Montana are participating in Take Back Day. Information about collection sites and more information about event is available here: https://takebackday.dea.gov/
During the last Take Back Day held on April 30, 2022, 4,427 law enforcement participants at 5,144 collection sites brought in a total weight of 721,093 pounds, or 360 tons, of drugs. This brings the total weight collected to 15.9 million pounds, or more than 7,995 tons, of prescription drugs collected in the history of the program. Collection results may include materials other than prescription drugs.
During the April 30, 2022 event, Montanans turned in 1,513 pounds of prescription drugs at 33 collection sites. Thirty-two law enforcement agencies participated.
In addition to DEA’s National Drug Take Back Day on Oct. 29, prescription drugs can be disposed of any day throughout the year at any of the 11,000 authorized collectors. For more information on collection sites, visit: https://apps2.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/pubdispsearch/spring/main?execution=e1s1
For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs or about the Oct. 29 Take Back Day event, go to www.DEATakeBack.com.
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