DEA's National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day

On September 27 from 10AM to 2PM, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), along with various law enforcement partners throughout New York State, will give the public its ninth opportunity in four years to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs (with the exception of liquids, needles or sharps, only pills or patches).  Bring your pills for disposal to a collection site in Westchester (listed below). The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.

Last April, Americans turned in 390 tons (over 780,000 pounds) of prescription drugs at nearly 6,100 sites operated by the DEA and more than 4,400 of its state and local law enforcement partners.  When those results are combined with what was collected in its eight previous Take Back events, DEA and its partners have taken in over 4.1 million pounds—more than 2,100 tons—of pills.  

This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue.  Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs.  Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines—flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash—both pose potential safety and health hazards. 

DEA is in the process of approving new regulations that implement the Safe and Responsible Drug Disposal Act of 2010, which amends the Controlled Substances Act to allow an “ultimate user” (that is, a patient or their family member or pet owner) of controlled substance medications to dispose of them by delivering them to entities authorized by the Attorney General to accept them.  The Act also allows the Attorney General to authorize long term care facilities to dispose of their residents’ controlled substances in certain instances.

Yonkers Police Department 1st Precinct
730 Grassy Sprain Road
Phone: (914) 377-7477
Map

Yonkers Police Department 2nd Precinct
441 Central Avenue
Phone: (914) 377-7452
Map

Yonkers Police Department 3rd Precinct
435 Riverdale Avenue
Phone: (914) 377-7427
Map 

Yonkers Police Department 4th Precinct
53 Shonard Place
Phone: (914) 377-7402
Map 

To find a collection site outside of the 35th Senate District, click here.   

If you are unable to participate on September 27th, the following Police Departments in the Senator's District have locked and secure collection boxes where medications can be returned twenty-four hours a day. It is strongly recommended that you call the Police Department first to confirm program details.

Ardsley Police Department
507 Ashford Avenue 
Phone: (914) 693-1700
Map

Greenburgh Police Department
188 Tarrytown Road
Phone: (914) 682-5300
Map

Tarrytown Police Department
One Depot Plaza
Phone: (914) 631-5544
Map

White Plains Police Department
77 South Lexington Avenue
Phone: (914) 422-6400
Map