Prescription Drug Take Back Day scheduled for Saturday

DEA to set up drop-off sites across San Antonio

SAN ANTONIO – To combat the epidemic of prescription drug addiction as well as accidental ingestion by children, the DEA will stage another Prescription Drug Take Back Day Saturday.

Nearly 6.4 million Americans age 12 and older abuse prescription drugs, according to the 2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.  Experts said abuse of narcotic painkillers like Oxycontin, Percocet and Vicodin is a particular problem.

Many abusers report getting their drugs from friends and family, including their home medicine cabinets.

People can drop off leftover or expired prescription pills or patches for safe disposal, no questions asked from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The DEA will host approximately two dozen sites in the San Antonio region.

Click here to find a site near you.

It's a chance to clean out medicine cabinet, something many people say they haven't done in years.

For people who throw out medicines on their own, experts advise removing personal information from the bottle, then mixing the drugs with something unappealing, like coffee grounds or cat litter, and sealing it in a plastic bag and tossing is in the trash. 

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About the Author:

Marilyn Moritz is an award-winning journalist dedicated to digging up information that can make people’s lives a little bit better. As KSAT’S 12 On Your Side Consumer reporter, she focuses on exposing scams and dangerous products and helping people save money.