Special to the Leader & Times

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), in partnership with more than 4,200 law enforcement agencies, collected 645,636 pounds of unused medications October 24, as part of ongoing efforts to prevent drug misuse.

This event marked DEA’s 31st National Prescription Drug Take Back Day with 4,212 collection sites nationwide, including 64 tribal locations. Since 2010, DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day has collected the equivalent of more than 10,840 tons of medications.

Across the DEA St. Louis Field Division, communities safely disposed of 30,997 pounds of unused and expired prescription medications at more than 200 locations spanning Kansas, Missouri and Southern Illinois.

“Don’t underestimate the significance of removing prescription medications from your home in a timely fashion,” DEA St. Louis Field Division Special Agent in Charge Steven Hofer said. “That one medication that’s safely disposed of is one less medication that can lead to a potential overdose or poisoning. If you weren’t able to make it out to Take Back Day in October, consider locating a year-round collection site near you to eliminate the threat from your home and community.”

More than 15,300 pharmacies, hospitals, businesses, and many police departments offer safe medication disposal year-round.  For information on permanent drop boxes, visit DEA’s Every Day is Take Back Day webpage.

National Prescription Drug Take Back Day results are available at Take Back Day. Safe disposal of unused medications remains one of the simplest ways communities can help prevent drug misuse.