Did you know that over 6.2 million Americans misused prescription drugs in 2016? This number continues to grow. What’s more disheartening is that most of them obtained the drugs from friends or family members. This issue is what National Drug Takeback Day highlights.

What Is National Prescription Drug TakeBack Day?

Before you can participate in National Drug Takeback Day, you need to know what it is. In short, it’s a program that offers a safe and convenient way to dispose of expired or unused prescription drugs. You can drop off the drugs at certain locations so that experts can responsibly dispose of them.

When Is National Drug Takeback Day?

For 2019, National Drug Takeback Day is on April 27. The event runs between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. During this time, you can visit any authorized site to drop off your prescription drugs for free. Doing so gives you the peace of mind that others won’t steal or sell your prescriptions on the street.

How to Find a Drop-off Location

Now, you might be wondering where a drop-off location is near you. In most cases, your local prescription drug addiction rehab center will participate in this event. However, you can visit the event’s official website to find the nearest location. Besides rehab centers, many pharmacies accept unused prescription drugs. However, not all of them do. It’s important to visit the official website to find a location near you. Experts at these locations dispose of the drugs properly so that they don’t fall into the wrong hands.

Raising Awareness

Getting more prescription drugs off of the street is the main focus of National TakeBack Day. However, other things happen around the same time. For example, many organizations use the day to spread awareness about the misuse of prescription drugs. In fact, many kids don’t even know that prescription drugs are bad. They assume that all of the drugs that doctors prescribe are safe for people to use. Parents, teachers, and organizations can use Take Back Day to teach them about the dangers. Teaching kids about prescription drugs can also prevent them from becoming dealers. Sometimes kids and even adults give friends and family members drugs. They think that they’re helping when they do this, but they’re just putting their loved ones at risk.

Do Your Part to Keep Drugs Off of the Street

You can do your part to keep drugs off of the street when you participate in TakeBack Day. If you or a loved one needs Pennsylvania addiction recovery services, consider Steps to Recovery. We provide drug addiction rehab programs for people who struggle with drug abuse. Some of these programs include:

Don’t wait to get help for yourself or a family member who abuses drugs. Learn more about National Drug Takeback Day and how it can protect others from addiction. Reach out to our friendly staff at 267.719.8528.