April 30 is National Prescription Drug Take Back Day

The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) is encouraging Alaskans to participate in the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) National Prescription Drug Take Back Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 30.

The drug overdose epidemic in Alaska is a public health and safety threat. Prescription Drug Take Back Day is a bi-annual event that takes place in the spring and fall. that encourages households to safely dispose of unneeded and expired medications from their homes in an effort to prevent potential medication misuse and opioid addiction from ever starting.

In a press release, Alaska’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Anne Zink said, “Unused prescription drugs can be a risk to children or others in the home and can find their way into the wrong hands, leading to poisonings, addiction, or fatalities. You can reduce the risk to your family and the community by promptly and safely disposing unused opioids and other medications.”

Prescription drugs including tablets, capsules, patches and other solid forms of medication will be collected. However, liquids (including intravenous solutions), syringes and other sharps, and illegal drugs will not be accepted.

The Palmer and Wasilla Fred Meyers locations will be participating, along with the Willow Community Center in Willow. DEA also offers an online tool to help locate year-round pharmaceutical disposal locations near you.

“It’s important for leftover or unneeded prescriptions to be disposed of promptly, safely and responsibly, either through events like this or at a permanent collection site in your community,” said Dr. Zink.

DHSS reminds people that drugs should not be flushed in a toilet or thrown in the trash, and instead advises Alaskans to get free, safe drug disposal bags from local public health center to deactivate certain drugs, such as opioids, before disposal. These bags are currently available free of charge at many State of Alaska Public Health Centers.

DHSS also recognizes that experiencing pain is a normal part of healing and recovering from an injury, surgery or dental work, and encourages open discussions with health care providers. He or she may decide opioids are the best pain management option, but it is important to have a discussion about non-opioid pain management alternatives and the best treatment options at the lowest level of risk.

In addition to National Prescription Take Back Day, DHSS will be hosting a public webinar via Zoom on Thursday, May 5, from noon to 1 p.m. to help inform Alaskans about safe drug disposal and storage, non-opioid pain alternatives and overdose prevention. To join by phone, call 1-408-638-0968, Webinar ID: 897 2119 6066.