WILMINGTON – With hundreds of lives being lost to drug overdoses each year, Delaware will hold a Drug Take-Back Day on Saturday, April 29, 2017 to help reduce the risk of prescription medications being diverted for misuse. Delawareans can discard their expired or unused medications at locations statewide between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday.

Organized by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Department of Health and Social Service (DHSS), the twice-a-year event has resulted in more than 65,000 pounds of medication being collected in 13 events.

Properly discarding unused medications protects groundwater, reduces the risk of addiction, keeps prescription medications out of the hands of people who may abuse them, and helps prevent drug overdoses.

“We must view addiction as the chronic disease it is. We can all improve the safety of our homes and communities by properly disposing of unused medicines,” said DHSS Secretary Dr. Kara Odom Walker. “National studies show that almost two-thirds of people who misuse prescription drugs get them from friends and family, including by raiding medicine cabinets, purses, and drawers.”

The April 29, 2017 Drug Take-Back Day announcement was held in the Walgreens pharmacy in the Fairfax Shopping Center near Wilmington. Dr. Walker praised Walgreens for being the first private Delaware retailer to install safe medicine disposal boxes. Six of Delaware’s 21 permanent medicine drop-off locations are in Walgreens pharmacies. The remaining 15 permanent boxes are located in local law enforcement agencies.

“Delaware – and the nation’s – problem with prescription drug abuse has hit nearly every home and family,” said U.S. Sen. Tom Carper. “The Prescription Drug Take-Back program is just one tool in our tool box to get these drugs out of the wrong hands. It’s easier than ever to get rid of your unwanted prescriptions instead of letting them get into the wrong hands, or throwing them away and polluting our land and water supply. We will continue to fight this problem and will only be successful by working with all levels of government, and partnering with the private and nonprofit sector to attack this problem on all fronts.”

“By making safe medication disposal kiosks available in select Delaware stores, as we have done in other states over the last year, Walgreens is taking an important first step to reduce the misuse of medications throughout the country and curb the rise in overdose deaths,” said Jessica Puckett Beasley, Walgreens regional healthcare director in Delaware. “Everyone has a role to play in minimizing prescription drug abuse, and we are committed to being part of a comprehensive solution to reverse this epidemic.”

“I want to applaud Walgreens, the DEA, Delaware Health and Social Services, and everyone working together to do their part to stop the spread of prescription medications getting into the wrong hands,” said U.S. Sen. Chris Coons. “It takes a group effort; everyone doing their part to stop the drug abuse that’s taking hold in our communities. I encourage everyone to take a look at their medicine cabinets, and if you’re not using those prescriptions, participate in the Drug Take-Back Day or dispose of their medications in one of the 21 locations permanent drop boxes statewide.”

In 2016, 308 people died in Delaware from drug overdoses compared to 228 in 2015 and 222 in 2014. Up to 80 percent of Delaware’s drug overdoses may involve one or more prescription medications.

“We know that prescription drugs are often a gateway to illegal drugs,” said Delaware Attorney General Matt Denn. “Ensuring that prescription drugs do not end up in the wrong hands is therefore an important part of our effort to address Delaware’s opioid epidemic. Prevention, treatment, and law enforcement are all critical parts of this fight.”

“Public Health is grateful for all the Drug Take-Back Day participating organizations, the DEA, and the law enforcement agencies and Walgreens which offer the permanent drop boxes,” said Division of Public Health Director Dr. Karyl Rattay. “We must also increase awareness about alternatives to opioid medications to reduce pain and educate medical providers on the new Delaware prescribing rules.”

New regulations for the safe prescribing of opiates, promulgated by the Delaware Department of State’s Division of Professional Regulation, became effective April 1, 2017. They establish standards for prescribing opiates safely for acute episodes and for chronic, long term pain management. Read the full text at: http://dpr.delaware.gov/boards/controlledsubstances/documents/20%20DE%20Reg%20564%2001-01-17.pdf

Delawareans seeking help for drug addiction or medical providers seeking information on patient education and treatment resources can visit www.HelpIsHereDE.com. Click on “I am here for me” to see a list of detox, treatment and recovery providers in the region.

Drugs 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. For more details and a list of permanent collection sites, visit DPH at http://dhss.delaware.gov/dph/hsp/hhdrugtakeback.html or 302-744-4546, ext. 5; and the DEA atwww.dea.gov/take-back/takeback-news.shtml.

Delaware’s Drug Take-Back Day sites for April 29, 2017 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. are:

New Castle County
Daniel S. Frawley Stadium, 801 Shipyard Drive, Wilmington, DE 19801
Delaware City Police Department, 407 Clinton St., Delaware City, DE 19706
New Castle County Airport, 151 N. DuPont Highway, New Castle, DE 19720
Paul J. Sweeney Public Safety Building, 3601 N. DuPont Highway, New Castle, DE 19720
Wilmington VA Medical Center, 1601 Kirkwood Highway, Wilmington, DE 19805
Shipley Manor Nursing Home, 2723 Shipley Road, Wilmington, DE 19810
Christiana Care Surgical Center, 4755 Ogletown Stanton Road, Newark, DE 19718
University of Delaware – Laurel Hall, 282 The Green, Newark, DE 19716
Delaware State Police Troop 2, 100 La Grange Ave., Newark, DE 19702
Newark Police Department, 220 South Main St., Newark, DE 19711 (permanent collection site)
Walgreens, 1120 Pulaski Highway, Bear, DE 19701 (permanent collection site)
Walgreens, 6317 Limestone Road, Hockessin, DE 19707 (permanent collection site)
Walgreens, 2119 Concord Pike, Wilmington, DE 19803 (permanent collection site)

Kent County
Atlantic Apothecary, 103. S. Dupont Blvd., Suite 2, Smyrna, DE 19977
Cheswold Police Department, 691 Main St., Cheswold, DE 19936
Delaware State Police Troop 3, 3759 S. State St., Camden, DE 19934
Heritage at Dover Assisted Living, 1203 Walker Road, Dover, DE 19904
Walgreens, 1001 Forrest Ave., Dover, DE 19904 (permanent collection site)
Felton Police Department, 24 East Sewell St., Felton, DE 19943 (permanent collection site)
Milford Police Department, 400 N.E. Front St., Milford, DE 19963 (permanent collection site)

Sussex County
Dagsboro Police Department, 33134 Main St., Dagsboro, DE 19939
Delaware State Police Troop 4, 23652 Shortly Road, Georgetown, DE 19947
City of Lewes Board of Public Works, 129 Schley Ave., Lewes, DE 19958
Delaware State Police Troop 7, 18006 Coastal Highway, Lewes, DE 19958
Milton Police Department, 101 Federal St., Milton, DE 19968
Beebe Medical Tunnell Center, 18947 John Jay Williams Highway, Rehoboth, DE 19971
Rehoboth Beach Police Department, 229 Rehoboth Ave., Rehoboth, DE 19971
CVS Pharmacy, 36252 Lighthouse Road, Selbyville, DE 19975
Selbyville Town Hall, 68 W. Church St., Selbyville, DE 19975 (permanent collection site)
Ocean View Police Department, 201 Central Ave., Ocean View, DE 19970 (permanent collection site)
Laurel Police Department, 205 Mechanic St., Laurel, DE 19956 (permanent collection site)
Walgreens, 17239 Five Points Square, Lewes DE 19958 (permanent collection site)
Walgreens, 22898 Sussex Highway, Seaford, DE 19973 (permanent collection site)

About Walgreens
Walgreens (www.walgreens.com), one of the nation’s largest drugstore chains, is included in the Retail Pharmacy USA Division of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (NASDAQ: WBA), the first global pharmacy-led, health and wellbeing enterprise. Walgreens operates 8,173 drugstores with a presence in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Walgreens omnichannel business includes Walgreens.com and VisionDirect.com. More than 400 Walgreens stores offer Healthcare Clinic or other provider retail clinic services.

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 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.

DOVER – To improve safety in our homes and communities, the Division of Public Health (DPH), the Medical Society of Delaware, and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) announced the 12th National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day for Saturday, April 30, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. For a link to the temporary and permanent collection sites, visit: http://dhss.delaware.gov/DPH/hsp/hhdrugtakeback.html.

Delawareans can anonymously discard their expired and unused medicines at designated collection sites in each county. Identification is not required, and no questions will be asked. Collection sites will accept prescription and over-the-counter pills, liquid medications, cream medications, and pet medications. No syringes or inhalers will be accepted.

“Many Americans are not aware that medicines that languish in their home cabinets are highly susceptible to illegal diversion, misuse, and abuse,” said Gary Tuggle, the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s Philadelphia Field Division. “I am encouraging the public of Delaware to take full advantage of this free service that the DEA offers to safely dispose of their unwanted or expired prescription medicine.”

National studies show that more than two-thirds of people who misuse prescription drugs get them from friends and family, including raiding medicine cabinets, purses, and drawers. Properly disposing of expired and unused medicines prevents prescription drug misuse, which leads to overdoses and addiction. Overdoses from heroin, prescription painkillers, and other drugs led to the deaths of 171 Delaware residents in 2013, or about one person every other day. According to preliminary numbers, 204 Delawareans died of drug-related deaths in 2014. Persons seeking help for drug addiction can visit http://www.HelpIsHereDE.com to connect with treatment and recovery services. The website also includes warning signs of addiction.

It is harmful to Delaware’s groundwater for unused medicines to be flushed down toilets or put in the trash. Though not at dangerous levels yet, traces of several drugs have been found in private and public water systems throughout Delaware.

Between 2010 and 2015, the 11 Delaware Drug Take-Back events collected 52,002 pounds of drugs. A new collection record was set on the Sept. 12, 2015 Drug Take-Back Day, when Delaware collected 7,227 pounds of drugs.

In addition to the temporary locations, there are now 14 permanent sites at local police departments. The New Castle County Police Department was the first police department in Delaware to establish a permanent medicine collection drop-off box in its lobby.

“Thank you to these 14 police departments who have taken the lead on permanent, safe prescription drug disposal,” said DPH Director Dr. Karyl Rattay. “Offering constant, safe, and anonymous collection sites can help Delawareans avoid painful addictions, illegal substance use, and tragic overdoses.”

Drugs must be in a container such as a pill bottle, box, blister pack, or zip lock bag. Leave liquid medications in their original containers. Needles, aerosols, biohazardous materials, medical equipment, and batteries will not be accepted. Personal information should be removed from bottles and packages.

Businesses such as medical clinics or pharmacies wishing to dispose of unwanted stock are not permitted to use these drop boxes. These DEA registrants must follow Federal Regulation 21CFR1307.21 for disposal of unwanted stock.

More details are available from DPH at www.DelawareHealthyHomes.org or 800-882-9539, and from the DEA at www.dea.gov/take-back/takeback-news.shtml.

The Drug Take-Back Day collection sites, operating on April 30 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. are:

New Castle County
Delaware City Police Department
407 Clinton St.
Delaware City, DE 19706

Newark Police Department
220 South Main St.
Newark, DE 19711

Christiana Care Medical Arts Pavilion II
4755 Ogletown Stanton Rd.
Newark, DE 19718

New Castle County Airport
151 N. Dupont Hwy.
New Castle, DE 19720

New Castle County Public Safety Building
3601 N. DuPont Hwy.
New Castle, DE 19720

Frawley Stadium
801 Justison St.
Wilmington, DE 19801

Wilmington VA Medical Center
1601 Kirkwood Hwy.
Wilmington, DE 19805

Shipley Manor Nursing Home
2723 Shipley Rd.
Wilmington, DE 19810

Delaware State Police Troop 2
100 LaGrange Ave.
Newark, DE 19702

Kent County
Dover AFB Commissary
268 Galaxy St.
Dover AFB, DE 19902

Cheswold Police Department
691 Main St.
Cheswold, DE 19904

Heritage at Dover Assisted Living
1203 Walker Rd.
Dover, DE 19904

Camden Police Department
1783 Friends Way
Camden, DE 19934

Felton Delaware Town Hall
24 E. Sewell St.
Felton, DE 19943

Milford Police Department
400 N.E. Front St.
Milford, DE 19963

Atlantic Apothecary
100 S. Main St.
Smyrna, DE 19977

Sussex County
Dagsboro Police Department
33134 Main St.
Dagsboro, DE 19939

Delaware State Police Troop 4
23652 Shortly Rd.
Georgetown, DE 19947

Laurel Police Department
205 Mechanic St.
Laurel, DE 19956

Lewes Municipal Building
114 E. Third St.
Lewes, DE 19958

Ocean View Police Department
201 Central Ave.
Ocean View, DE 19970

Beebe Medical Tunnel Center
18947 John Jay Williams Hwy.
Rehoboth, DE 19971

Rehoboth Beach Police Department
229 Rehoboth Ave.
Rehoboth, DE 19971

CVS Pharmacy
36252 Lighthouse Rd.
Selbyville, DE 19975

Selbyville Town Hall
68 W. Church St.
Selbyville, DE 19975

Bridgeville Fire Department
311 Market St.
Bridgeville, DE 19933

In addition, there are 14 permanent collection sites at:

New Castle County
Newark Police Department
220 S. Main St.
Newark, DE 19711

New Castle County Police Department
3601 N. DuPont Hwy.
New Castle, DE 19720

Wilmington Police Department
300 N. Walnut St.
Wilmington, DE 19801

Kent County
Dover Police Department
400 S. Queen St.
Dover, DE 19904

Smyrna Police Department
325 W. Glenwood Ave.
Smyrna, DE 19977

Felton Police Department
24 E. Sewell St.
Felton, DE 19943

Camden Police Department
1783 Friends Way
Camden, DE 19934

Harrington Police Department
20 Mechanic St.
Harrington, DE 19952

Sussex County
Selbyville Police Department
68 W. Church St.
Selbyville, DE 19975

Greenwood Police Department
100 W. Market St.
Greenwood, DE 19950

Ocean View Police Department
201 Central Ave.
Ocean View, DE 19970

Georgetown Police Department
335 N. Race St.
Georgetown, DE 19947

Laurel Police Department
205 Mechanic St.
Laurel, DE 19956
302-875-2244

Delmar Police Department
400 N. Pennsylvania Ave.
Delmar, MD 21875

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.

Dover – National studies show that the majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, and that includes the home medicine cabinet. That’s why the Division of Public Health’s Healthy Homes Program is coordinating the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on Saturday September 12, 2015 between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.

During Drug Take-Back Day, Delawareans are asked to dispose of unused, unwanted and expired medicines at 26 collection sites across the state. Identification is not required at the free collection sites, and no questions will be asked.

More than 70 percent of people abusing prescription pain relievers obtain them through friends or relatives, or by raiding medicine cabinets, according to the 2011 Department of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Twice as many Americans regularly abused prescription drugs than the number who regularly used cocaine, hallucinogens, heroin, and inhalants combined.

Additionally, past methods for disposing of unused medicines such as flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash, pose potential health and safety hazards. Though not at dangerous levels yet, traces of several drugs have been found in private and public water systems throughout Delaware.
DPH’s participation in Drug Take-Back Day builds on recently announced efforts to combat Delaware’s drug addiction epidemic. On August 28, 2015 the Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) announced a large donation of the overdose reversing drug naxalone, and the week before, DHSS Secretary Rita Landgraf joined Governor Jack Markell and other state officials to unveil the state priorities for $4.45 million in new resources provided by the Fiscal Year 2016 to expand the capacity for residential treatment centers. In 2014, a total of 185 people died from suspected overdoses in Delaware, or about one person every other day. Many of those overdoses were the result of heroin or prescription painkillers. From January through July of this year, there have been 78 suspected overdose deaths.

Since the first statewide Drug Take-Back event held in May 2010, Delaware’s ten collection days have removed a total of 44,775 pounds of medicines from circulation. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) sponsors the National Drug Take-Back days.

Delaware and Pennsylvania will have their Drug Take-Back Days earlier than the rest of the nation (September 26) due to Pope Francis’s impending visit to Philadelphia in late September.

The September 12 Drug Take-Back Day collection sites will accept prescription and over-the-counter pills, liquids, and cream medications, and even pet medications. Injectables and aerosols are not included in the program, and will not be accepted. Personal information should be removed from bottles and packages. More details are available at the Delaware Healthy Homes program webpage or by calling (800) 882-9539.

The Drug Take-Back Day collection sites, operating from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. are:

County Collection Site Name Address City Zip
New Castle Delaware City Town Hall 407 Clinton Street Delaware City 19706
New Castle Newark Police Department 220 South Main Street Newark 19711
New Castle Christiana Care Medical Arts Pavilion II 4755 Ogletown Stanton Rd. Newark 19718
New Castle New Castle County Airport Terminal 151 N. Dupont Hwy New Castle 19720
New Castle New Castle County Police Department 3601 N. DuPont Hwy New Castle 19720
New Castle Wilmington Blue Rocks Stadium 801 S. Justinson St. Wilmington 19801
New Castle Wilmington VA Hospital 1601 Kirkwood Hwy Wilmington 19805
New Castle Shipley Manor Nursing Home 2723 Shipley Rd. Wilmington 19810

County Collection Site Name Address City Zip
Kent Dover AFB Commissary 268 Galaxy Street Dover AFB 19902
Kent Cheswold Police Department 691 Main Street Cheswold 19904
Kent Dover Police Department 400 South Queen Street Dover 19904
Kent Heritage at Dover Assisted Living 1203 Walker Rd. Dover 19904
Kent Camden Police Department 1783 Friends Way Camden 19934
Kent Felton Delaware Town Hall 24 East Sewell Street Felton 19943
Kent Milford Police Department 400 N.E. Front Street Milford 19963
Kent Atlantic Apothecary 100 S. Main Street Smyrna 19977

County Collection Site Name Address City Zip
Sussex Dagsboro Police Department 33134 Main Street Dagsboro 19939
Sussex Delaware State Police Troop 4 23652 Shortly Rd. Georgetown 19947
Sussex Laurel Police Department 205 Mechanic St. Laurel 19956
Sussex Lewes Police Department 114 East Third Street Lewes 19958
Sussex Milton Police Department 101 Federal Street Milton 19968
Sussex Ocean View Police Department 201 Central Ave Ocean View 19970
Sussex Beebe Medical Tunnel Center 18947 John Jay Williams Hwy. Rehoboth 19971
Sussex Rehoboth Beach Police Department 229 Rehoboth Ave Rehoboth 19971
Sussex CVS Pharmacy 36252 Lighthouse Road Selbyville 19975
Sussex Selbyville Town Hall 68 W. Church Street Selbyville 19975

Delaware’s Drug Take-Back Day totals:
May 14, 2010 – 1,680 lbs.
September 25, 2010 – 303 lbs.
April 30, 2011 – 4,395 lbs.
October 29, 2011 – 4,465 lbs.
April 28, 2012 – 6,808 lbs.
September 29, 2012 – 4,561 lbs.
April 27, 2013 – 6,122 lbs.
October 26, 2013 – 5,258 lbs.
April 26, 2014 – 6,476 lbs.
September 27, 2014 – 4,707 lbs.
TOTAL = 44,775 lbs.
Source: Delaware Division of Public Health, Office of Healthy Environments

If you are unable to attend the event, you can still dispose of your prescription medication at one of Delaware’s eight permanent drug disposal sites. View the list of sites here. Additionally, Verde Technologies recently partnered with the Delaware Prescription Drug Action Committee (PDAC) and the Delaware Pharmacists Society (DPS) to launch the first Deterra Drug Deactivation System statewide pilot program in the country. Verde will work with six participating Delaware pharmacies to provide free Deterra Drug Deactivation System packages to residents so that they may safely and conveniently deactivate and dispose of unused highly addictive and sought after prescription medications at home. To view the press release, click here.

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, and drink almost no sugary beverages.