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SALT LAKE CITY — The 26th annual National Prescription Drug Take Back Day resulted in over 12,000 pounds of prescription drugs turned in throughout Utah.
The Drug Enforcement Administration's Rocky Mountain Field Division gathered unneeded, unwanted, or expired prescription medication donations on Saturday across multiple states.
People brought medications to locations all over Colorado, Utah, Wyoming and Montana.
The states within the Rocky Mountain Division collected the following:
- Colorado: 10,017 pounds
- Utah: 12,530 pounds
- Wyoming: 935 pounds
- Montana: 2,270 pounds
In all, 25,752 pounds were collected, which amounts to nearly 13 tons.
What is done with the drugs they collect?
"After collection, bags are securely placed in boxes; the boxes are then loaded onto pallets; the pallets are loaded into large, contractor-driven semitrucks. The tons of medications are then transported outside of the (Rocky Mountain Field Division)," the organization stated in a release. "Once they arrive at the designated destruction destination, the drugs are incinerated in a safe and effective manner."
The final Saturdays in April and October are designated as Nation Prescription Drug Take Back Days. However, nearly 17,000 pharmacies and other locations accept unwanted or expired medications every day. To find a participating location near you, visit DEA.gov.
