Clean out your medicine cabinets; Help prevent prescription drug misuse

East Providence, RI –With opioid overdose deaths increasing, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) announces its 25th Take Back Day is scheduled for Saturday, October 28th, 2023. The DEA will partner with The East Providence Police Department, the City of East Providence and the East Providence Prevention Coalition for Take Back Day, continuing an over a decade long partnership. At last year’s event, the DEA collected a large amount of expired, unwanted, and unused prescription medications, with the nation’s public turning in close to 500 tons of unwanted drugs, with 118 pounds being collected in April right here in East Providence, thanks to residents like you!

On Saturday, October 28th, 2023, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the DEA, the City of East Providence, the East Providence Police Department, and the East Providence Prevention Coalition (EPPC) will once again provide residents the opportunity to prevent prescription drug misuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs. The event will be held at the East Providence Police Station located at 750 Waterman Ave. The service is safe, free, confidential, anonymous, environmentally friendly, and most importantly - could save a life.

In addition to preventing overdose deaths, the Take Back Day initiative addresses the vital public safety and public health issue of prescription drug misuse and addiction. According to DrugFree.com, 90 percent of prescription drug addictions begin in the teenage years and Rhode Island has the startling statistic as leading the nation in teens misusing drugs. As many as 1 in 4 teens report taking a prescription drug that was not prescribed to them, with most obtaining them from their parents, friends or family member’s medicine cabinet. In addition, state health officials have seen an increase in teens misusing over-the-counter substances, like Tylenol, to attempt suicide.

“We must do all that we can to stem overdose fatalities and reduce access to these substances,” EPPC Director Madeline Marlow said. “With studies indicating a majority of misused prescription drugs come from family and friends, including from home medicine cabinets, clearing out unused medication is essential in preventing unauthorized access and potential overdose deaths.”

DEA and its partners will collect tablets, capsules, patches, and other solid forms of prescription drugs. Liquids (including intravenous solutions), syringes and other illegal drugs will not be accepted. DEA will continue to accept vaping devices and cartridges at its drop off locations provided lithium batteries are removed.

Clean out your medicine cabinets and join other members of the community on October 28th, 2023 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the East Providence Police Station.

Helping people dispose of potentially harmful prescription drugs is just one way the DEA, the East Providence Police Dept. and the EPPC is working to reduce substance misuse and prevent overdose deaths. In addition to Take Back Day, The EPPC has Deterra medication disposal pouches available at their office and at other locations throughout the City, such as the senior center, libraries, and all police and fire stations. The pouches use patented technology for simple and environmentally safe disposal of prescription drugs by adding water to the powder in the bag. The mixture neutralizes the drugs, making it safe to dispose of the entire pouch and its contents in your regular household trash.

For more information on the October 28, 2023. Take Back Day event, go to www.dea.gov/takebackday 

For more information regarding safe medication disposal and substance misuse prevention, contact the East Providence Prevention Coalition at eppc@eastprovidenceri.gov  or call 401-527-7008.