RICHMOND, Va. - Attorney General Mark R. Herring is encouraging Virginians to take advantage of Saturday's National Prescription Drug Take Back Day to dispose of unused or expired medications.
The day is to promote disposal of medications, especially prescription opioids, before they can be misused, abused, or accidentally ingested.
Law enforcement agencies, community partners, and members of the AG's team will be stationed at dozens of locations throughout the Commonwealth to accept medications for proper disposal.
Takeback locations across the Hampton Roads region, which will be open Saturday, October 24th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
To find your nearest location, click here..
"Far too often opioid addiction starts at home in the medicine when old or unused prescription medications fall into the hands of someone who could abuse them," said Attorney General Herring. "Taking your unused prescriptions to a Drug Takeback location is such an easy way for Virginians to dispose of potentially dangerous drugs. I want to encourage everyone who might have unneeded prescriptions in their homes to take a few minutes out of their weekend to bring them to one of these locations to be disposed of. This is such a simple step that will make our homes and our communities much safer."
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse:
- Heroin abuse is 19 timesmore likely among those who abuse prescription opioids
- Half of young people who used heroin got started by abusing prescription opioids
- One in fifteen individuals who misuse prescription opioid painkillers will try heroin within 10 years
- Studies show a link between the availability of prescription and illicit drugs and the likelihood of abuse
According to officials in Virginia, opioid overdose deaths have risen steadily since 2010:
- Heroin overdose deaths have risen more than 1,056% between 2010 and 2018, from 48 to 555
- Fentanyl deaths have risen by over 1,593% percent from 2007 to 2018, from 48 to 813
- Prescription opioid overdose deaths have risen 19% between 2007 and 2018, from 400 deaths to 477