Yakima Site Part of National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day This Saturday

All across the U.S., people with outdated, unused, or unwanted prescription drugs can get rid of

them this Saturday, September 29th during the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (“DEA”) fifth

“National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day”.

A Yakima drop-off site will be located in the parking lot at 207 South 3rd Street across from the

Richard A. Zais, Jr. Center for Law and Justice. Prescription drugs will be accepted at the

Yakima drop-off site from 10:00am until 2:00pm on Saturday, and then disposed of free of

charge.

The DEA conducted its first National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day in 2010. Since then,

participation in the event has consistently grown. In total, almost 774 tons of prescription drugs

have been turned in through the program.

The DEA began the Take-Back Day program in order to curb the misuse of prescription drugs –

a growing problem in the U.S. More Americans currently abuse prescription drugs than the

combined number of those who use cocaine, hallucinogens, and heroin.

The Take-Back Day program also helps reduce the number of prescription drugs that are

improperly disposed of by being flushed down the toilet or thrown out with the trash.

Prescription drugs that end up in the sewer system or landfills can result in contamination of

both groundwater and surface water supplies.

“Having people bring prescription drugs that they are not using to a Take-Back Day drop-off site

is a much better alternative to getting rid of them any other way,” said City of Yakima

Wastewater Pretreatment Supervisor Arlene Carter. “The drop-off sites provide a free,

anonymous, no questions asked option to dispose of old pills and medicines safely.”

For more information about National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, check out the DEA’s