DHSS Press Release

LAST DEA-SPONSORED DRUG TAKE-BACK DAY SEPTEMBER 27, 2014, 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Dover (September 23, 2014) - As a way to rid homes of unused and expired medicines, organizers encourage Delawareans to participate in the final statewide Drug Take-Back Day from 10:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 27, at 29 free collection sites across the state. Identification is not required, and no questions will be asked.

The collection sites will accept prescription and over-the-counter pills, liquids, and cream medications, and even pet medications. Injectables and aerosols will not be accepted. Personal information should be removed from bottles and packages. More details are available at DelawareHealthyHomes.org or by calling 800-882-9539.

Since the first statewide Drug Take-Back event was held in May 2010, Delawareans disposed of 40,068 pounds of medicines at nine collection days. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) sponsors the National Drug Take-Back days.

"Across our state, we know that too many people, including teens, gain access to medications that are not prescribed to them by taking them from medicine cabinets," Delaware Health and Social Services Secretary Rita Landgraf said. "The Drug Take-Back Day is an opportunity to safely dispose of unwanted, unnecessary and expired medications."

In 2013 surveys by the University of Delaware, 10 percent of Delaware eighth-graders reported illegal prescription drug use. Often, these children take prescription drugs from their parents' medicine cabinet without their knowledge. About 16 percent of high school students said they took prescription painkillers, such as OxyContin, codeine, or Percocet, without a doctor's prescription one or more times during their lives.

"Prescription drugs themselves are not the problem; addiction and misuse are causing our prescription drug epidemic," said Dr. Karyl Rattay, DPH Director and co-chair of the Prescription Drug Action Committee.

Saturday's Drug Take-Back Day is Delaware's last one sponsored by DEA. "The Federal Drug Enforcement Administration's recently published final rules allow the establishment of permanent drug disposal collection boxes by non-law enforcement entities," explained David Mangler, director of the Delaware Department of State's Division of Professional Regulation. "Beginning Oct. 9, 2014, businesses, health care providers, hospitals, narcotic treatment programs, and clinics with on-site pharmacies and retail pharmacies can apply to the DEA to collect prescription drugs. Establishing permanent collection receptacles will prevent the possible diversion of controlled substances and unforeseen tragedies like substance abuse, overdoses, and crime."

The Drug Take-Back Day collection sites, operating from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. are:
PRESCRIPTION DRUG COLLECTION SITES: OPEN SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27 FROM 10:00 A.M. TO 2:00 P.M.

NEW CASTLE COUNTY
BJ's
AIRPORT PLAZA
NEW CASTLE, DE 19720

CHRISTIANA CARE HOSPITAL
MEDICAL ARTS PAVILION II
4755 OGLETOWN-STANTON RD.
NEWARK, DE 19718

DELAWARE CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT
815 FIFTH ST.
DELAWARE CITY, DE 19706

DELAWARE MEMORIAL BRIDGE POLICE LOBBY
I-295 AND NEW CASTLE AVENUE
NEW CASTLE, DE 19720

NEW CASTLE COUNTY POLICE HEADQUARTERS
3601 N. DUPONT HWY.
NEW CASTLE, DE 19720

SHIPLEY MANOR NURSING HOME
2723 SHIPLEY RD.
WILMINGTON, DE 19810

UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE POLICE DEPT.
413 ACADEMY ST.
NEWARK, DE 19716

VA MEDICAL CENTER - WILMINGTON
1601 KIRKWOOD HWY.
WILMINGTON, DE 19805

WILMINGTON BLUE ROCKS STADIUM (parking lot)
801 SHIPYARD DR.
WILMINGTON, DE 19801

KENT COUNTY
ATLANTIC APOTHECARY
100 S. MAIN ST.
SMYRNA, DE 19977

CAMDEN POLICE DEPT.
1783 FRIENDS WAY
CAMDEN, DE 19934

CHESWOLD POLICE DEPT.
691 MAIN ST.
CHESWOLD, DE 19936

DOVER AIR FORCE BASE COMMISSARY
258 GALAXY ST.
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE
DOVER, DE 19902

DOVER POLICE DEPT.
400 S. QUEEN ST.
DOVER, DE 19904

HARRINGTON POLICE DEPT.
10 MECHANIC ST.
HARRINGTON, DE 19952

HERITAGE AT DOVER ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY
1203 WALKER ROAD
DOVER, DE 19904

MILFORD POLICE DEPT.
400 N. E. FRONT ST.
MILFORD, DE 19963

SUSSEX COUNTY
BEEBE MEDICAL CENTER (TUNNEL CANCER CENTER)
18947 JOHN JAY WILLIAMS HWY.
REHOBOTH BEACH, DE 19971

BRIDGEVILLE FIRE DEPT.
311 MARKET ST.
BRIDGEVILLE, DE 19933

DAGSBORO POLICE DEPT.
33134 MAIN ST.
DAGSBORO, DE 19939

DELAWARE STATE POLICE - TROOP 4
23652 SHORTLY RD.
GEORGETOWN, DE 19947

GREENWOOD POLICE DEPT.
100 W. MARKET ST.
GREENWOOD, DE 19950

LAUREL POLICE DEPT.
205 MECHANIC ST.
LAUREL, DE 19956

LEWES FERRY TERMINAL
43 CAPE HENLOPEN DR.
LEWES, DE 19958

MILTON POLICE DEPT.
101 FEDERAL ST.
MILTON, DE 19970

NANTICOKE MEARS HEALTH CAMPUS
200 RAWLINS DR.
SEAFORD, DE 19973

OCEAN VIEW POLICE DEPT.
201 CENTRAL AVE.
OCEAN VIEW, DE 19970

REHOBOTH BEACH POLICE DEPT.
229 REHOBOTH AVE.
REHOBOTH BEACH, DE 19971

SELBYVILLE TOWN HALL
68 W. CHURCH ST.
SELBYVILLE, DE 19975

A person who is deaf, hard-of-hearing, deaf-blind, or speech-disabled can call the DPH phone number above by using TTY services. Dial 7-1-1 or 800-232-5460 to type your conversation to a relay operator, who reads your conversation to a hearing person at DPH. The relay operator types the hearing person's spoken words back to the TTY user. To learn more about TTY availability in Delaware, visit http://delawarerelay.com.

Delaware Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware's citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations. DPH, a division of DHSS, urges Delawareans to make healthier choices with the 5-2-1 Almost None campaign: eat 5 or more fruits and vegetables each day, have no more than 2 hours of recreational screen time each day (includes TV, computer, gaming), get 1 or more hours of physical activity each day, drink almost no sugary beverages. The Drug Take-Back Day collection sites, operating from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. are:

Delaware Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware's citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations.