DEA Conducts Final Drug Take-Back Day Nationwide
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- The Drug Enforcement Administration's ninth and final Drug Take-Back Day takes place Saturday.
The administration is ending the program after what it said has been a "very, very successful'' run.
More: Full list of drop-off sites in N.Y. | Full list of drop-off sites in N.J. | Full list of drop-off sites in Conn.
There have been eight previous events for people to dispose of old or unneeded prescription drugs, no questions asked.
The DEA's Barbara Carreno said they've collected more than 2,000 tons of drugs.
The agency said the program is ending despite its success because revised rules for enforcing the Controlled Substances Act will allow for more convenient disposal options every day -- not just once every six months.
Drug stores, clinics, hospitals and other facilities will now be able to provide collection bins, in addition to those that law enforcement agencies have used for the take-back days.
According to Carreno, the new rules should ease tremendous pent-up demand. She added that the DEA fields calls "almost continuously between take-back days'' asking what can be done with old drugs now, not six months from now.
On Saturday, drugs can be dropped off at thousands of locations nationwide from 10 a.m. through 2 p.m.
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