Saturday, October 24, 2026 is National Prescription Drug Takeback Day, which addresses a crucial public safety and public health issue, according to a Penobscot Bay Community Health Partnerships news release 

"Unused prescriptions in the home pose risks such as accidental poisoning, theft, or prescription drug misuse," said PBCHP. "Proper disposal of leftover prescription drugs helps prevent the more than 13 million cases of prescription drug misuse and tens of thousands of overdose deaths reported annually in the U.S."

"The DEA’s Take Back Day events are an important reminder of the responsibility we all have in storing and disposing of medications responsibly, to make our communities safer," said the news release.

Locally, drugs can be dropped off on Saturday, October 24, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the following Knox and Waldo County sites:

● Knox County Sheriff’s Office, 301 Park Street – Rockland

● Thomaston Fire Department, 6 Knox Street – Thomaston

● Waldo County Sheriff’s Office, 6 Public Safety Way – Belfast

For those unable to attend this event, Deterra drug disposal bags can also be picked up for free from the Rockland Police Department, Knox County Sheriff’s Office, Belfast Police Department, and Waldo County Sheriff’s Office. Deterra drug disposal bags deactivate prescription drugs, pills, patches, liquids, creams, and films. This renders them inert, unavailable for misuse, and safe for the environment, according to the news release.

"This is helpful between drug take-back events or for those who cannot get transportation to a safe disposal location like the police department," said PBCHP.

Drug Take Back Day is sponsored by the US DEA and Maine Sheriff’s Association.

More than 4,400 collection sites will be set up across the country to dispose of unneeded, expired, and unused prescription medications.

"This is a simple step that prevents diversion, reduces the risk of accidental poisonings, and helps protect communities," said the U.S. DEA, in a DEA news release.

“Since 2010, Take Back Day has helped Americans remove more than twenty million pounds of unneeded medications from their homes,” said DEA Administrator Terry Cole. “By participating in Take Back Day, you are preventing potentially addictive medications from falling into the wrong hands – a small step that can save lives. I am grateful to the thousands of law enforcement and community partners who make these events possible, and I urge everyone to take a few minutes on Saturday, October 24, to clean out your medicine cabinets.”

What will be collected

• Tablets, capsules, patches, and other forms of prescription medications
• Liquid medications securely sealed in their original containers

What won’t be collected

• Syringes, sharps, and illicit drugs

Why it matters

• Prescription opioids, such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, codeine, and morphine, are among the most frequently misused prescription pain medications, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
• Removing unneeded medications from the home reduces the risk of misuse or accidental ingestion.

Visit www.DEATakeBack.com to find a registered Take Back location near you. If you are unable to participate in this fall’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, there are more than 15,300 pharmacies, hospitals, and businesses that offer safe medication disposal year-round, according to the DEA. In addition, many police departments also provide permanent drop boxes to ensure Every Day is Take Back Day.

Penobscot Bay Community Health Partnerships (PBCHP), a coalition led by the Community Health Promotion branch of the Penobscot Bay YMCA, serves Knox and Waldo counties to support healthier living in Maine. This grant-funded department of the YMCA provides free community programming for youth and adults addressing substance use prevention, tobacco use prevention and cessation, and nutrition education. For more information on how to support this effort, please contact: Jamie Lovley, jlovley@penbayymca.org 207-236-6313 ext. 1.