The Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) fall Drug Take Back Day is on Saturday, October 29, and the City of Falls Church Police Department will host a collection site near the police entrance outside City Hall (300 Park Ave.) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The public can safely and anonymously drop off potentially dangerous prescription drugs or unwanted or expired over the counter (OTC) medications during Drug Take Back Day. Accepted materials include tablets, capsules, patches, and other solid forms of prescription or non-prescription drugs. Vape pens and liquids (including intravenous solutions), syringes and other sharps, and illegal drugs will not be accepted.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were an estimated 108,000 drug overdose deaths in the United States in 2021, an increase of 15% from 2020. The increase in drug overdose deaths appeared to begin before the COVID-19 health emergency but accelerated significantly during the pandemic. Studies indicate that most abused prescription drugs come from family and friends, including home medicine cabinets. Clearing out unused medicine is essential.

At its last Take Back Day in April 2022, DEA collected over 360 tons of expired, unwanted, and unused prescription medications at over 5,000 Take Back Day sites. Over the 10-year span of Take Back Day, DEA has brought in nearly 8,000 tons of prescription drugs. For more information about Take Back Day and additional collection sites, visit dea.gov/TakeBackDay