How to find a collection point for unused prescription medications on Drug Take Back Day

The DEA wants people to remove unused prescription drugs from their homes and dispose of them properly.

People can drop off these medications at designated locations during the DEA's National Drug Take Back Day event, which runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, October 26, 2024.

Anyone can bring unwanted or expired medications for anonymous disposal. Pills must be in a container, loose pills will not be accepted. At most locations, individuals wishing to dispose of prescription liquids, creams, and patches must request a Deterra drug deactivation bag. The bag is used at home to deactivate and dispose of the products.

The DEA's Drug Take Back Day occurs twice a year, once in April and once in October.

How to find a collection point near you

You can use that DEA Collection Point Locator to find a collection point near you.

You can enter your zip code, county, city, or state and search within 10, 25, 50, or 100+ miles.

—> Substance Use Disorder Resource Guide: How to Find Treatment and Harm Reduction Services in Michigan

Signs of an opioid overdose

According to the CDC, the following are signs of an overdose:

• Small, narrow “point pupils”

• Falling asleep or losing consciousness

• Slow, weak or no breathing

• Choking or gurgling noises

• Flabby body

• Cold and/or damp skin

• Discolored skin (especially on lips and nails)

If you believe someone is overdosing, you should call 911 immediately and administer naloxone if available. Try to keep them awake and breathing, lay them on their sides to prevent suffocation, and stay with them until help arrives.

Michigan passed a Good Samaritan law in 2016. It prevents drug possession charges against those who seek medical attention for an overdose in certain circumstances.

Read: Can you overdose on fentanyl just by touching it? Many health experts say no

Testing drugs for the presence of fentanyl

According to the CDC, it is nearly impossible to determine whether drugs are laced with fentanyl unless you test them with fentanyl test strips.

The test strips were originally intended for urine drug testing, but they are being used unapproved to reduce the harm the drugs can cause.

Test strips are inexpensive and can provide results within five minutes. The CDC said to remain cautious even with a negative test because test strips may not detect stronger fentanyl-like drugs such as carfentanil. Test strips can also show false positive or false negative results.

Fentanyl has been found in heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, counterfeit pills and other street drugs.

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