The opioid epidemic continues to threaten the health, safety, and well-being of individuals and communities. According to the most recent data by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), it’s estimated there were over 107,500 drug overdoses in the United States throughout 2023. While overdose deaths from synthetic opioids (primarily fentanyl) decreased compared to 2022, deaths from cocaine and psychostimulants (like methamphetamine) increased.
The average American may not understand the grave consequences of prescription medication abuse and are not aware of the role they can play in combatting the opioid crisis. A study by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) on Key Substance Use and Mental Health Indicators demonstrates the risks of keeping unused medications in the household. It found that nearly 45% of people aged 12 or older who misused pain relievers bought, stole, or were given the drug by a friend or relative. In 2022, over 27 million individuals 12 or older had a drug use disorder.
Drug take back programs offer individuals a secure, accessible, and easy way to help prevent opioid misuse by turning in expired or unused prescription drugs to local police departments or pharmacies for disposal. These efforts are year-round, but the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) designates two days per year, in the spring and fall, as National Prescription Drug Take Back Day to further encourage people to return unneeded prescription medications.
This year, the 24th for the program, October 26 marks the next National Drug Take Back Day of 2024. Stericycle is proud to provide a guide for individuals and organizations to take part in drug take back programs and help increase awareness of the benefits for communities and the environment.
The Importance of Safe Drug Disposal
Before participating in National Drug Take Back Day, it’s important to understand how safe and compliant drug disposal helps combat the opioid epidemic.
The rise in at-home care underscores the importance of Drug Take Back Days. Almost 90% of the healthcare professionals surveyed by Stericycle in the Healthcare Workplace Safety Report (HWSTR) agree that they’re concerned about the risks of drug diversion. Year over year, surveyed healthcare professionals agree that improper disposal of pharmaceutical waste is one of the most significant contributors to the opioid epidemic (54% of providers, 86% of administrators). Ninety-three percent of the providers and 91% of the administrators surveyed agree that consumers don’t know proper disposal methods.
When left in easily accessible places like medicine cabinets, prescription drugs can often land in the wrong hands. The National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that nearly half of the 9.3 million people who misused prescription pain relievers in the past year obtained them from family or friends without their knowledge or consent.
Disposing of old prescriptions helps to protect people but it also helps to protect the environment. According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), when prescription medicines are flushed down sinks and toilets, they enter sewage waters. Because conventional wastewater treatment plants are not designed to remove pharmaceuticals, they can leach into waterbodies, posing a greater threat to aquatic species and ecosystems.
Participating in Drug Take Back Day
There are different ways for patients to prepare unwanted prescription and over-the-counter medications for safe disposal. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) sponsors National Prescription Drug Take Back Day in communities nationwide.
The DEA provides guidelines for individuals to prepare for the next Drug Take Back Day:
- Locate all medications in your household and ensure they are securely stored. All lids should be tightly secured on bottles, away from the reach of children and pets, etc.
- Conduct an inventory of the medications and identify which are unwanted and have expired dates.
- Clearly label medications that need disposal.
- Take the medications to a Drug Take Back Day collection site on the day and during the hours announced by the DEA.
Beyond collection on National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, your local retail pharmacy or hospital may have a year-round drop off location. Individuals can visit the DEA Diversion Control Division website to find the nearest drug collection location.
How Stericycle Supports Drug Take Back Programs
Supporting the fight against the opioid epidemic is one way Stericycle helps create a healthier and safer world. We work closely with hospitals, pharmacies, police departments, and other organizations to help enable secure and anonymous disposal of unused drugs. Here are some of the ways we're helping:
- MedDropTM Medication Collection Kiosks
Pharmacies and other DEA-registered/state licensed organizations with collector status can encourage confidential drug collection with our MedDropTM medication collection kiosks. Stericycle supplies collection receptacles to authorized collectors where people can conveniently drop off unwanted medications. Authorized collectors include retail pharmacies, hospitals/clinics with an on-site pharmacy and law enforcement agencies. - Seal&SendTM Consumer Medication Mail Back Program
For those who cannot access a drug take back location, Stericycle offers Seal&SendTM Consumer Medication Mail Back program. These prepaid envelopes allow patients to send up to eight ounces of unused medication to Stericycle for incineration prior to disposal. Unlike drug collection kiosks, which can only be hosted by certain DEA registrants, any organization can purchase Seal&SendTM envelopes and provide them to patients, employees, students, and others.
We are committed to continuously developing practical and easy disposal methods that can help prevent prescription medication abuse and protect the environment.
Visit our Safe Community Solutions page for more information about how Stericycle is combatting the opioid epidemic.
