DEA Take Back Day October 23rd

The US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is hosting the 21st Take Back Day tomorrow (October 23rd) from 10 am-2 pm.

If you have medications to dispose of, you can use this collection site locator to find a drop-off center near you. Most sheriff’s offices and police departments are participating in Take Back Day. If you missed the official day, you could use this database to find year-round authorized collectors.

Taking expired or unnecessary drugs out of the house can save lives. From the Take Back Day website: “According to the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 9.7 million people misused prescription pain relievers, 4.9 million people misused prescription stimulants, and 5.9 million people misused prescription tranquilizers or sedatives in 2019.”

This initiative has made a sustainable positive impact. The last Take Back Day, in April 2021, had over 5,000 collection sites and received 420 tons of unused medications. The DEA hosted the first Take Back Day in September of 2010, and the events have happened every spring and fall since. Here’s more background information for curious readers.

Communities of Care is committed to safe medication use. We carefully document all prescription medicines given and closely monitor and count narcotics to ensure that no medications are misused. We hope these resources help you keep track of your prescriptions and stay healthy.

In the News, Legislation and Community Action

October 22, 2021

Joan Vaughn

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Written by Joan Vaughn

I’m Joan, and I know home care from the inside out. I’ve navigated my daughter through 24/7 home care nursing and managed her PCA’s. I’ve helped my parents move into (and out of) assisted living, Medicare episodes, skilled nurse visits, home health aids, and PCAs. Sandwiched in all of that, I’ve helped coordinate home care equipment and supplies, physical therapists, occupational therapists, county workers, and medications (oh, the medications). I know emergency departments, children’s hospitals, cancer wards, cardiac floors, and specialty units. I can recite health insurance policies (and call their bluff). I know a lot of other things in life too, like Shakespeare, where to sit to see a great sunset over a lake, how to keep myself healthy, how to read a profit/loss statement and state statutes, when to use a comma, and that gratitude is one of the keys to success. So I’m going to have this blog and write about home care from time to time. I’ll include topics like current legislation, professional boundaries in a tricky environment, and being a caregiver. I’ll also post some guest blogs from clients and nurses. Join me in the conversation.

View all posts by: Joan Vaughn

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