DEA announces that unused prescription pills can be returned to pharmacies

Sep 10 2014

Seeking to combat growing drug abuse problems, federal authorities will allow patients and their relatives to take excess pills, such as opioid painkillers, to hospitals, clinics and pharmacies or to mail them to authorized sites.

The New York Times: D.E.A. To Allow Return Of Unused Pills To Pharmacies
Concerned by rising rates of prescription drug abuse, the Drug Enforcement Administration announced Monday that it would permit consumers to return unused prescription medications like opioid painkillers to pharmacies. The move is intended to help reduce stockpiles of unneeded medicines in homes, which are often pilfered by teenagers. Under the new regulation, patients and their relatives will also be allowed to mail unused prescription drugs to an authorized collector using packages to be made available at pharmacies and other locations, like libraries and senior centers (Saint Louis, 9/8). 

Los Angeles Times: U.S. Drug Agency Expands Drop-Off Sites For Unused Prescription Drugs
In an effort to address the nation's growing prescription drug abuse problem, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration will now allow hospitals, clinics and pharmacies to collect unused prescription drugs. The DEA's new regulation will also provide residents at long-term health facilities with the option of turning in unused prescription drugs on-sit (Levine, 9/8). 

The Wall Street Journal: U.S. To Allow Pharmacies To Take Back Unused Prescription Drugs
Federal authorities will soon allow pharmacies and clinics to take back customers' unused prescription drugs such as opioid painkillers in an effort to get addictive medications off the street. The change, to be issued in new Drug Enforcement Administration regulations effective next month, will address a long-standing complaint from people fighting opioid addiction that government rules make it difficult to safely dispose of unused pills (Barrett, 9/8).