WASHINGTON — The United States is currently experiencing what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) calls an opioid overdose epidemic.
Experts believe that increasing overdose prevention and education in communities can help save lives.
To help combat this epidemic, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) holds biannual Drug Take Back days nationwide, usually in April and October.
This year’s Take Back Event is happening today.
“Too often, unused prescription drugs find their way into the wrong hands. That’s dangerous and often tragic. That’s why it was great to see thousands of folks from across the country clean out their medicine cabinets and turn in - safely and anonymously - a record amount of prescription drugs,” the DEA wrote on its website.
At the last Take Back event in April, the DEA reported that 642,410 pounds of drugs were collected nationwide.
Dozens of law enforcement agencies across Washington are participating.
You can find take-back and collection sites near you here.
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