CLEAN OUT YOUR CUPBOARDS – ERIE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH PROMOTES “DRUG TAKE BACK DAY” EVENT ON OCTOBER 24  

Multiple drop-off locations in Erie County for U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s nationwide event to dispose of expired and unused medications

ERIE COUNTY, NY – On Saturday, Oct. 24, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., eight sites in Erie County and 20 across Western New York will be set up for residents to dispose of expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs. Coordinated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), this is the 19th nationwide event held since its start in 2010. 

“Old or unused prescriptions, and expired over-the-counter medicines, don’t need to be taking up space in your closets or cabinets. Our department encourages people to dispose of their expired or unused medications, year-round, at community kiosks located in all parts of Erie County,” said Commissioner of Health Dr. Gale Burstein. “With this event happening on October 24, take time to go through your household to collect these items for safe disposal. And if you have older family members who could use assistance, offer to help them with this task as well.”  

Sites for the Drug Take Back Day are only able to accept pills and patches; sites for this event cannot accept liquids, needles or sharps. Kiosks in Erie County accept other medication forms and sharps.

The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked. Staff and volunteers on-site will follow and enforce local COVID-19 health and safety guidelines. Drivers and passengers should stay in their vehicles at the site and wear a face covering while in their vehicle.

Erie County Locations:

WNY Locations:

Last fall, Americans turned in nearly 883,000 pounds of prescription drugs at nearly 6,300 sites operated by the DEA and almost 5,000 of its state and local law enforcement partners. DEA, along with its law enforcement partners, has now collected nearly 6,350 tons of expired, unused, and unwanted prescription medications since the inception of the National Prescription Drug Take Back Initiative in 2010.

This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Unused medicines in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Accidental poisonings and overdoses are also a consequence of drug misuse or improper storage.

The FDA also provides information on how to properly dispose of prescription drugs. More information is available here: https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/where-and-how-dispose-unused-medicines. 

For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs or about the October 24 Take Back Day event, go to http://www.DEATakeBack.com.

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For more information:             

• The Point – syringe access, drug and syringe disposal locator: http://www.thepointny.org/
• Erie County Department of Health, Opiate Epidemic Task Force: http://www.erie.gov/opioidtrainings
• Put your medicines up & away and out of sight: upandaway.org
• Text for Narcan: (716) 225-5473

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