For more than a decade, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has hosted a biannual event called National Prescription Drug Take Back Day that provides the public with the opportunity to easily and safely dispose of unneeded medications. Riverside Health System, in partnership with local law enforcement and the DEA, is proud to announce it will host events each April and October, for the DEA’s Prescription Drug Take Back program.
“We are pleased to offer these events within the communities we serve,” says Kemi Olatunji, Pharm.D, MBA, Senior Director of Pharmacy Services at Riverside. “By offering these events, we provide those in our communities with the opportunity to safely and anonymously dispose of unused or unwanted medications stored at their homes.”
Since the early 1990s, the opioid overdose epidemic has been a growing concern across the country, involving both prescription and illicit opioids. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that last year in the United States, approximately 101,751 people died as a result of drug poisoning. Of those deaths, 1,900 were reported in Virginia.
“The drug overdose epidemic is an ongoing concern in the United States and more specifically in our communities,” says Dr. Olatunji. “We are committed to creating healthier environments, and one way we can do that is by encouraging those in our community to dispose of unneeded medications and remove them from a potentially harmful situation.”
Please see below for date and location information:
Saturday, October 28, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
City of Williamsburg Municipal Building
401 Lafayette St, Williamsburg, VA 23185
Saturday, October 28, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m
Riverside Regional Medical Center – Medical Office Building
12200 Warwick Blvd, Newport News, VA 23601
Saturday, October 28, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
YH Thomas Community Center — Fire Department Side
1300 Thomas St, Hampton, VA 23669
Saturday, October 28, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Riverside Shore Memorial Hospital
20486 Market St, Onancock, VA 23417
At the events, local law enforcement and the DEA will collect tablets, capsules, patches, and other forms of prescription drugs. Liquid products, such as cough syrup, should remain sealed in their original container. Syringes, sharps, and illicit drugs will not be accepted.