MCHD supports Take Back Day for prescription drugs

October 25, 2022

MCHD supports Take Back Day for prescription drugs

MOBILE, Ala. — With opioid overdose deaths increasing during the pandemic, the Drug Enforcement Administration announced its next National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day is scheduled for Saturday, October 29. At its last Take Back Day in April, the DEA collected a large amount of expired, unwanted, and unused prescription medications, with the public turning in close to 360 tons of unwanted drugs.

The public can drop off potentially dangerous prescription medications at collection sites that will adhere to local COVID-19 guidelines and regulations in order to maintain the safety of all participants and local law enforcement. You can learn more about the event by visiting https://www.dea.gov/takebackday.

For local residents, the DEA website stated the Mobile Police Department will provide a drop-off location at its headquarters (2460 Government Street in Mobile). The Mobile County Sheriff’s Department will have drop-off locations at Costco (1450 Tingle Circle East in Mobile), Walgreens #15151 (5707 Cottage Hill Road in Mobile), Walgreens #6085 (5530 Three North Road in Mobile), CVS #4888 (4453 Old Shell Road in Mobile) and CVS #7671 (1401 Hillcrest Road in Mobile). Medications can be dropped off between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

To learn more about the Mobile County Health Department’s Overdose Data to Action (OD2A) program, call 251-410-OD2A (6322). OD2A focuses on the complex and changing nature of the drug overdose epidemic. It highlights the need for an interdisciplinary, comprehensive, and cohesive public health approach.

The DEA has brought in approximately 7,995 tons of prescription drugs. With studies indicating a majority of abused prescription drugs come from family and friends, including from home medicine cabinets, clearing out unused medicine is essential.