On October 26, CADCA partnered with the City of Alexandria on Drug Take Back Day, part of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) 27th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, to encourage residents and the broader community to safely dispose of their unexpired or unwanted medications. The day was a huge success, resulting in the collection of 205 pounds of medications in the City of Alexandria alone, and 314 tons (628,000 pounds) across all collection sites.

This event is part of a larger initiative by the DEA, which, in collaboration with over 4,000 law enforcement agencies, provided more than 4,500 collection sites across the United States. National Prescription Drug Take Back Day encourages the safe and anonymous disposal of unnecessary, expired, or unused medications to help prevent prescription drug misuse.

Prescription drug misuse is a growing public health crisis, and studies show that up to 80% of patients have leftover opioids after surgery. Since these medications often remain in households, they can pose a significant risk to children, teenagers, and even pets. Two out of three teens who misuse pain medication say they obtained it from friends and family, and medications meant for humans are among the leading causes of pet poisonings in the United States.

In Alexandria, CADCA staff members joined police officers to volunteer at two local collection sites—the Neighborhood Pharmacy of Del Ray and Alexandria Police Department Headquarters—and distribute free Deterra pouches for safe disposal at home. This effort coincided with CADCA’s broader Over the Dose campaign, sponsored by Deterra, which aims to educate the public on safe prescription practices and encourage the proper disposal of leftover medications. The Over the Dose campaign itself generated 500 mentions across 28 states, with support from state and local government agencies, youth organizations, healthcare providers, tribal organizations, and more.

If you missed Drug Take Back Day, there are still plenty of options for disposing of your medications. Nearly 17,000 pharmacies, hospitals, and businesses offer safe medication disposal year-round, and many local police departments provide permanent collection drop boxes.