Governor Hassan Announces State Partnership with U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency on Prescription Drug Take-Back Day

Press Release

As part of her efforts to combat the heroin and opioid crisis by preventing the misuse of addictive prescription drugs, Governor Maggie Hassan announced today that the State of New Hampshire is partnering with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), local law enforcement, substance misuse advocates and poison prevention organizations on National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day.

On Saturday, April 30, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m, the public will be able to dispose of potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs at collection sites statewide. Aimed at promoting proper storage and disposal of medicine found in the home, National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day allows the public to anonymously dispose of these potentially dangerous substances free of charge, no questions asked.

"The heroin and opioid crisis is the most urgent public health and safety challenge facing our state, and we know it stems in part from the overuse, misuse and abuse of addictive prescription opioids," Governor Hassan said. "Promoting the proper storage and disposal of expired, unused or unwanted medicine will help build on our efforts to prevent the misuse of addictive prescription drugs, and National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day is an important opportunity to raise awareness and make our communities safer. I thank our state agencies, federal partners at the DEA, local law enforcement, substance misuse advocates and poison prevention organizations for working together on this initiative."

The DEA, and its state and local law enforcement and community partners have removed 50,396 pounds (25.2 tons) of unwanted or expired medication in New Hampshire through 10 previous take-back events over the last six years. During the September 1, 2015, collection, 7,767 pounds (3.1 tons) of unwanted or expired medication was collected.

More than eighty collection sites have been established across New Hampshire. A full list of the temporary sites in New Hampshire for the April drug-take back day can be found at www.justice.gov/dea/.

In addition, there are more than 40 permanent drug take-back sites at local police departments across New Hampshire. Those sites are available at des.nh.gov/organization/divisions/water/dwgb/dwspp/medsafety/documents/prescription-drug-drop-box.pdf pdf file.

For more information of how to properly dispose of unwanted medicine, please visit www.nh.gov/medsafety.

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