Federal Prescription Drug Take Back Day

Health and Human Services and the Drug Enforcement Administration will provide federal staff an opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs.

Bring your pills for disposal to one of the following two sites in Chicago:

• Illinois Center, 233 N. Michigan Avenue
  (enter on South Water near Burrito Beach)
• Ralph H. Metcalfe Federal Building
  77 W. Jackson Blvd, 2nd Floor Cafeteria

The DEA cannot accept liquids or needles or sharps, only pills or patches.  The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.

Last October, Americans turned in 456 tons (over 912,000 pounds) of prescription drugs at almost 5,500 sites operated by the DEA and more than 4,200 of its state and local law enforcement partners.  Overall, in its 14 previous Take Back events, DEA and its partners have taken in over 9 million pounds of pills.

This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue.  Prescriptions that languish in medicine cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs.  Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines—flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash—both pose potential safety and health hazards.

For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs or about the April 25 Federal Take Back Day event, go to the DEA Take Back website.