UNDATED (WSAU) — Drug Takeback Day was successful around the country. The national day for collecting unused prescription medications a week ago gathered record amounts of pills and liquids.
The federal Drug Enforcement Administration confirms that last week’s even had more drugs turned in than on any of the previous ten events since the start in 2010. DEA officials say 4,200 state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies collected a combined 893,498 pounds of unwanted medicines—about 447 tons—at almost 5,400 sites spread through all 50 states, beating its previous high of 390 tons in the spring of 2014 by 57 tons, or more than 114,000 pounds.
In Wisconsin, another record was set. Attorney General Brad Schimel announced earlier this week that 62,618 pounds of prescription drugs were collected on Saturday, April 30th during the state’s drug take-back day. That’s a 40 percent increase over the October 2015 total.
Wisconsin now has 256 permanent drop boxes for leftover household medications, and sponsored by 238 participating law enforcement agencies.
More information about Drug Take Back Day is available online.
