DEA: Minn. Collects 5,600 Lbs. Of Drugs In Nat'l Prescription Drug Take-Back Day
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The State Of Minnesota took in 5,600 pounds of prescription drugs as part of the DEA National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day Initiative (NTBI) on Saturday, Sept. 26, according to the DEA.
Hundreds of Americans in Midwestern communities took part in the DEA's initiative by discarding their unused, expired or unwanted drugs at 346 collection sites, manned by DEA, local law enforcement and community partners.
In addition to Minnesota, Illinois took in 40,109 pounds, Indiana took in 18,400 pounds, Wisconsin took in 11,479 pounds and North Dakota took in 1,495 pounds.
"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," the DEA said in a statement. "According to the 2014 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 6.5 million Americans abused controlled prescription drugs."
The NTBI was the tenth event of its kind in the past five years.