Press Release: DEA Announces 20th Take Back Day 
DATE: 04-19-21
LOCATION: Borough of Deal, Borough of Interlaken, Village of Loch Arbour
INCIDENT: DEA Announces 20th National Take Back Day
NARRATIVE:
With opioid overdose deaths increasing during the pandemic, the Drug Enforcement Administration announces its 20th Take Back Day is scheduled for April 24th. At its last Take Back Day in October, DEA collected a record-high amount of expired, unwanted, and unused prescription medications, with the public turning in close to 500 tons of unwanted drugs. Over the 10-year span of Take Back Day, DEA has brought in more than 6,800 tons of prescription drugs. With studies indicating a majority of abused prescription drugs come from family and friends, including from home medicine cabinets, clearing out unused medicine is essential.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. has seen an increase in overdose deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic, with 83,544 Americans overdosing during the 12-month period ending July 1, 2020, the most ever recorded in a 12-month period. The increase in drug overdose deaths appeared to begin prior to the COVID-19 health emergency but accelerated significantly during the first months of the pandemic.
The public can drop off potentially dangerous prescription medications at the Deal Firehouse, 110 Brighton Ave, Deal, NJ from 10am-2pm this Saturday April 24, 2021.
DEA and its partners will collect tablets, capsules, patches, and other solid forms of prescription drugs. Liquids (including intravenous solutions), syringes and other sharps, and illegal drugs will not be accepted. DEA will continue to accept vaping devices and cartridges at its drop off locations provided lithium batteries are removed.
Learn more about the event at www.deatakeback.com, or by calling 800-882-9539.
PREPARED BY:
Sgt Brian Egan
Public Information Officer
(732) 531-1113
[email protected]
Address/Location:
Deal Police Department
190 Norwood Ave
Deal, NJ 07755
Contact:
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 732-531-1113
Address/Location
Borough of Interlaken Police Department
190 Norwood Ave
Deal, NJ 07723
Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 732-531-7405
