D.E.A. Drug Take Back Initiative

The Southern University at New Orleans Police Department in partnership with the Drug Enforcement Administration gives the public an opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs.  Bring your pills for disposal to SUNO Police Department at 6400 Press Dr., New Orleans, Louisiana 70126.  (The DEA cannot accept liquids or needles or sharps, only pills or patches.)  The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.

Last year, Americans turned in 372 tons (744,082 pounds) of prescription drugs at more than 4,900 sites operated by the DEA and almost 4,276 of its state and local law enforcement partners.  Overall, in its 22 previous Take Back events, DEA and its partners have taken in millions of pounds of pills. 

This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue.  Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs.  The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health shows year after year that the majority of misused and abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including someone else’s medication being stolen from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines—flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash—both pose potential safety and health hazards.

For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs or about the upcoming Take Back Day event, go to www.DEATakeBack.com.

SCHEDULED COLLECTION DATES

• Saturday, October 28, 2023, 10:00 am-2:00 pm