U.S. Senator John Boozman Promotes Arkansas Take Back Day

LITTLE ROCK – U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR) encourages Arkansans to participate in Arkansas Take Back and get expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs out of their homes.

“Prescription drug abuse is the fastest-growing drug problem in the country and unfortunately Arkansas is not immune to this problem. Arkansas has implemented measures to combat this problem by decreasing the availability of prescription drugs and properly disposing of expired and unneeded medication through the Arkansas Take Back program. Providing a safe option to dispose of old or unneeded medication helps reduce the risk of developing addictions to prescription drugs,” Boozman said.

More than 130 collection sites across Arkansas will take old and unneeded prescription drugs. This is part of the nationwide initiative, National Drug Take Back Day, to return and dispose of prescription drugs and curb their abuse.Across Arkansas 25,289 pounds of prescription drugs were collected during the last Take Back event in April, setting a new record for the state-wide collection.

In July, the Senate passed, and the President signed into law, the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act to provide a series of incentives and resources designed to encourage states and local communities to pursue proven strategies to combat addiction and support individuals in recovery.

Drug take-back programs are an important tool to breaking the cycle of addiction for our veterans and all prescription drug abusers. That’s why Boozman helped push the Drug Enforcement Administration to establish drug take-back programs in coordination with the Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs by expanding prescription drug disposal programs to allow pharmacies, hospitals, clinics and other locations to serve as drop-off sites to collect unused or unwanted prescription drugs.

Click here to find drop off locations in Arkansas