---
title: "Psych News Alert: Medication Take-Back Day Nets Over 188 Tons"
description: Americans participating in the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA’s) third National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on October 29 turned...
---

[Psych News Alert ](https://alert.psychnews.org)

# [Psych News Alert: Medication Take-Back Day Nets Over 188 Tons](https://alert.psychnews.org/2011/11/medication-take-back-day-nets-over-188.html)

 Written by [Psychiatric News Alert](https://alert.psychnews.org/author/psychiatric-news-alert) | 11/30/11 5:00 AM

<https://alert.psychnews.org/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/pr110311_fig2-Jun-24-2025-06-06-49-0981-PM.jpg> 

Americans participating in the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA’s) third National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on October 29 turned in more than 188.5 tons of unwanted or expired medications for safe disposal at the 5,327 take-back sites available in all the states and U.S. territories. When the results of the three Take-Back Days are combined, the DEA and its state, local, and tribal law-enforcement and community partners have removed nearly 1 million pounds (498.5 tons) of medication from circulation.

“The amount of prescription drugs turned in by the American public during the past three Take-Back Day events speaks volumes about the need to develop a convenient way to rid homes of unwanted or expired prescription drugs,” said DEA Administrator Michele Leonhart, who noted  that these three events have dramatically reduced the risk of prescription-drug diversion and abuse.

For more about the history of federal efforts to create safe methods for disposing of prescription drugs, particularly those susceptible to diversion and abuse, see *[Psychiatric News](http://psychnews.psychiatryonline.org/newsarticle.aspx?articleid=113690)*.

(Image: DEA)

[View full post](https://alert.psychnews.org/2011/11/medication-take-back-day-nets-over-188.html)

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