Treasure Coast - Wednesday April 27, 2022: Multiple locations along the Treasure Coast will serve as drop off points from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. this Saturday, April 30, for the federal Drug Enforcement Agency's 22nd Drug Take Back Day.
The aim is to prevent drug addition and reduce overdose deaths by helping the public safely dispose of unneeded controlled substances. This bi-annual event offers free, anonymous disposal of unneeded medications at more than 4,000 local drop-off locations nationwide.
Year-round receptacles are also available at more than 13,000 pharmacies, hospitals, police departments, and business. Additionally, with the passage of the DUMP Opioids Act in 2021, the public may now use drop boxes at Veterans Administration medical centers to dispose of controlled substance prescription medications. Check with your local VA health facility for more information. With more than 13,000 year-round drop-off locations in the United States, every day can be Take Back day.
Here are some of the locations along the Treasure Coast where you can drop off your old and un-needed drugs.
Saint Lucie County Sheriff's Office Port St. Lucie Walgreens - outside in front of store | 4700 W Midway Rd, Fort Pierce, FL 34981 Map to Port St. Lucie Walgreens | ||||||
Martin County Sheriff's Office Jensen Beach Walgreens | 800 SE Monterey Rd, Stuart, FL 34994 Map to Jensen Beach Walgreens | ||||||
Indian River County Sheriff's Office Perkins Pharmacy - Vero Beach | 4055 41st Ave, Vero Beach, FL 32960 Map to Perkins Pharmacy in Vero Beach | ||||||
Stuart Police Department Stuart CVS | 830 SE M.L.K. Jr Blvd, Stuart, FL 34994 Map to Stuart CVS | ||||||
Drug overdose deaths are up 16 percent in the last year, claiming more than 290 lives every day. According to a report published by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, a majority of people who misused a prescription medication obtained the medicine from a family member or friend. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that in the United States, more than 106,000 people died as the result of a drug overdose in the 12-month period ending November 2021, marking the most drug-related deaths ever recorded, with opioid-related deaths accounting for 75 percent of all overdose deaths.
“Disposing of unneeded medications can help prevent drugs from being misused,” said DEA Administrator Anne Milgram. “Overdose deaths continue to hit tragic record highs. I encourage everyone to dispose of unneeded prescription medications now.”
For more than a decade, DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day has helped Americans easily rid their homes of unneeded medications—those that are old, unwanted, or no longer needed—that too often become a gateway to addiction. Working in close partnership with local law enforcement, Take Back Day has removed more than 15 million pounds of medication from circulation since its inception. These efforts are directly in line with DEA’s priority to combat the overdose epidemic in the United States.
To locate an April 30 collection site near you a location finder is available at: https://www.dea.gov/takebackday.