TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General Ashley Moody is urging Floridians to participate in the 25th National Drug Take Back Day on Oct. 28, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This biannual event, organized by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, provides a secure and convenient means for individuals to dispose of unused or expired prescription medications. Attorney General Moody, along with law enforcement agencies statewide, is committed to combating the opioid epidemic and promoting responsible prescription drug disposal.
Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “Unwanted prescriptions collecting dust in people’s medicine cabinets can be harmful to addicts or curious teens. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, more than half of all people who misused pain relievers obtained them from a friend or relative. This weekend, get rid of any expired or no-longer needed medications by participating in National Drug Take Back Day. This simple step may help save the life of someone close to you, and it will also help us build a Stronger, Safer Florida.”
Nearly 4,500 law enforcement officers across the country participated in the last National Drug Take Back Day in April, helping collect more than 663,000 pounds of unwanted prescription drugs. For perspective, that is roughly the same weight as one of the largest commercial airplanes when fully loaded with passengers, cargo and fuel. During the previous Drug Take Back Day, in Florida, more than 160 law enforcement agencies participated at 220 collection sites throughout the state gathering more than 32,000 pounds of collected items.
Floridians can learn more about National Drug Take Back Day and find participating locations by visiting DEA.gov/TakeBackDay. The DEA website also includes resources on what kind of effects drugs can have on the body and conveniently explain the difference in drug schedules.
To inform Floridians about the dangers of opioid misuse, Attorney General Moody developed the Dose of Reality Florida website. For more information about the dangers of the opioid crisis, and to find a list of year-round drug drop-off locations, visit DoseOfRealityFL.com—the statewide, comprehensive resource that provides information and resources about opioid misuse.
