Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration Encourage Wisconsin Residents to Drop Off Unwanted Prescription Drugs During This Month's National "Take Back" Day

The next “Take Back Initiative,” organized by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration, is scheduled for Saturday, September 29, 2012, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

MADISON — Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen wishes to thank the many households and law enforcement agencies that helped to make last April's national Prescription Drug “Take Back” Day a success. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) reported that a record 37,642 pounds, or 18.7 tons, worth of prescription drugs were dropped off at collection sites throughout Wisconsin on April 28, 2012, making our state the third largest contributor of unwanted medications in the country.

Van Hollen encourages anyone who still has unwanted, expired or unused prescription drugs to participate in the next “Take Back Day,” scheduled for September 29, 2012, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Take Back service is free and anonymous. To find a drop-off location near you, visit the following DEA website: Search for Collection Site

“I'm grateful to the DEA for its leadership and to our many local law enforcement partners for their cooperation in this effort,” Attorney General Van Hollen said. “Prescription drugs, when abused, can result in overdose and death, and if disposed of improperly, can threaten our environment. Wisconsin residents have a strong track record of dropping off their unwanted medications in record numbers, and I certainly hope we can keep up this trend to keep our streets safe and our environment unharmed.”

“Prescription drug abuse is a significant problem. More deaths were caused last year by prescription drug abuse than by heroin and cocaine overdose deaths combined,” said SAC Jack Riley, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Field Division. “And this National Take Back Initiative is an excellent way to reduce the potential for misuse by providing a safe and secure method for people to clean out their medicine cabinets and properly dispose of unused medication anonymously.”