This Saturday, Oct. 26, is National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, and the Delaware Division of Public Health is urging public participation.

The twice-a-year event is organized by the Drug Enforcement Administration to reduce the number of medications being misused. The program has resulted in over 85,000 pounds of medication being collected since 2010.

A total of 9.9 million Americans misused controlled prescription drugs, according to the 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. In Delaware, 400 people died from drug overdoses in 2018. The state has the highest rate of high-dose and long-acting opioid prescriptions written in the nation, and has the sixth-highest drug overdose rate, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

"Addiction oftentimes begins with prescription medications," said Dr. Karyl Rattay, director of the Division of Public Health. "Unsecured prescriptions can be misused or stolen, or worse, they can become the gateway to illicit drugs such as heroin or fentanyl. The best way to stop addiction is to prevent it. Disposing of unused or expired medications is the best way to keep yourself or your loved ones safe."

Last April, Delaware residents returned 4,693 pounds of unused or expired prescription medications at 26 collection sites throughout the state. DPH leadership is encouraging residents to return even more medications at the October event.

The service is free, and no personal information will be collected at drop-off locations. Medications for disposal must be in a container such as a pill bottle, box, blister pack, or zipped plastic bag, with personal information removed. Liquid medications must be in their original containers. Needles, aerosols, biohazard materials, medical equipment and batteries will not be accepted.

In Delaware, the following locations will accept medications between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.:

KENT COUNTY
"¢ Delaware State Police Troop 3, 3759 South State St., Camden-Wyoming
"¢ Dover Place, 1203 Walker Road, Dover
"¢ Atlantic Apothecary, 103 S. Dupont Blvd., Smyrna

NEW CASTLE COUNTY
"¢ Delaware City Police Dept., 407 Clinton St., Delaware City
"¢ Middletown Police Dept., 130 Hampden Road, Middletown
"¢ New Castle County Airport, 151 North Dupont Highway, New Castle
"¢ Christiana Care SurgiCenter, 4755 Ogletown-Stanton Road, Newark
"¢ Delaware State Police Troop 2, 100 Lagrange Ave., Newark
"¢ Newark Police Dept., 220 South Main St., Newark
"¢ Shipley Manor Nursing Home, 2723 Shipley Road, Wilmington
"¢ Wilmington VA Hospital, 1601 Kirkwood Highway, Wilmington

SUSSEX COUNTY
"¢ Delaware State Police Troop 7, 18006 Coastal Highway, Lewes
"¢ Lewes Ferry Terminal, 43 Cape Henlopen Drive, Lewes
"¢ Milford Police Department, 400 NE Front St., Milford
"¢ Milton Police Department, 101 Federal St., Milton
"¢ Ocean View Police Dept., 201 Central Ave., Ocean View
"¢ CVS Pharmacy, 36252 Lighthouse Road, Selbyville
"¢ Selbyville Town Hall, 1 W. Church St., Selbyville

For more information visit https://www.helpisherede.com/Get-Help/Prescription-Drug-Drop-Box.