Prescription Drug Take Back Day: Drop off locations near Denver

DENVER (KDVR) -- Saturday is National Prescription Drug Take Back Day and many agencies are participating, offering drop-off locations across Colorado.

Every year on the last Saturday of April and October, agencies nationwide participate in the event led by the Drug Enforcement Administration. It’s an opportunity for people to safely get rid of their unneeded, unwanted or expired prescription medications.

Earlier this year, over 5 tons of unwanted prescription drugs were collected in take-back day events.

Saturday is another chance for Coloradans to properly and conveniently get rid of unwanted, leftover, unused or expired prescription drugs. Here are some take-back events happening in the metro area:

• Denver
  • 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
    • District 1 - 1311 W 46th Ave.
    • District 2 - 3921 N Holly St.
    • District 3 - 1625 S University Blvd.
    • District 4 - 2100 S Clay St.
    • District 5 - 12025 E 45th Ave.
    • District 6 - 1566 N Washington St.
    • King Soopers - 10406 E MLK Jr. Blvd.
    • Rose Medical Center – 4567 E 9th Ave.
    • Rose Central Park ER – 4930 Wabash St.
• Aurora
  • 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
    • Pickens Technical College, 500 Airport Blvd.
    • University Hospital, 1635 Aurora Ct.
    • Medical Center of Aurora, 1501 S. Potomac St.
    • University of Colorado, 13309 E. 17th Pl.
    • King Soopers, 25701 E. Smokey Hill Rd.
• Jefferson County
  • 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
    • Dakota Ridge High School - 13399 West Coal Mine Avenue, Littleton
    • Jefferson County Sheriff's Office - 200 Jefferson County Parkway, Golden
    • Marshdale Elementary School - 26663 N Turkey Creek Road, Evergreen

How to dispose of unwanted prescription drugs in Colorado

The DEA says “every day is take back day,” with some 17,000 participating pharmacies, hospitals and businesses across the U.S.

Year-round drop-off locations can be found through the DEA Diversion Control Division’s online tool: input a zip code or city and choose a search radius and a list of nearby collection sites will be generated.

Here is a map of drop-off locations in Colorado.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention predicted 14,675 people died of prescription opioid poisoning or overdose last year, which is why the DEA says it’s important to clean out medicine cabinets and help prevent drug misuse before it starts.

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