Independence Blue Cross supports the nationwide effort to clear homes of expired, unused, unwanted, and potentially dangerous prescription drugs during the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) National Prescription “Drug Take Back Day” taking place Saturday, April 29 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Last year, the state of Pennsylvania collected nearly 44,000 pounds of unwanted medicines. That’s over 20 tons of dangerous drugs that were safely disposed of.
The DEA offers more than 100 Take Back locations across the Philadelphia region for you to dispose of your unwanted or expired prescriptions. The service is free and anonymous. Check out the list of local drop-off locations at ibxfoundation.org.
Most experts agree that prevention plays an important role in combatting opioid addiction. Prohibiting unauthorized or illegal access to prescription opioids is a strong first step. It’s been shown that children and teens who first abuse prescription drugs often obtain them from the home medicine cabinets of family or friends who do not properly dispose of unused or outdated medication.