Red Ribbon Week is the nation’s oldest and largest drug prevention awareness campaign that runs from October 23-31. It is the ideal time to raise drug awareness, including the proper disposal of unwanted drugs.
Prescription Drug Abuse
When faced with heightened anxiety, stress, depression, or pain, many people look for solace in prescription drugs–like opioids–that are often readily accessible inside a home. New risks to human and environmental health call for enhanced outreach to ensure the safe removal of unwanted and expired medications from households worldwide.
Unfortunately, many people improperly dispose of unused pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs). These products make their way into the environment through sewer systems or landfills. PPCPs travel through sewer systems and arrive at wastewater treatment facilities that are not equipped to completely remove them from the water. As a result, compounds left in treated water can cycle back into drinking water.
People are advised to take an active role in eliminating PPCPs from the environment since we are responsible for their existence. One way to do that is to use prescription drop boxes.
Drug Boxes
Prescription drop boxes are one of the best ways to eliminate unwanted prescription and over-the-counter drugs. Contact your local police department or pharmacy to find the nearest drop box in your area. You can also search drug disposal sites via Google Maps or the United States Department of Justice’s Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) website to find a site near you.
Make sure all medication labels have been removed from pill bottles or containers before bringing them to a drop-off location.
Drug Take-Back Days
The DEA also has national drug take-back days that occur the fourth Saturday in April and October each year. These days allow communities and businesses to establish collection sites where people can bring unwanted drugs. In April 2022, 4,427 U.S. law enforcement agencies provided 5,144 drop-off locations and collected 721,093 pounds (360 tons) of unwanted and expired medication. The program has resulted in the collection of over 15 million pounds (7,995 tons) of drugs since its inception.
The next drug take-back day coincides with Red Ribbon Week October 29. To find a collection site near you, or for more information on drug take-back days, visit the Take Back Day website.
Promoting Red Ribbon Week
The following are some ideas on how you can promote Red Ribbon Week:
- Wear a red ribbon during the week.
- Take the Lock-your-meds pledge.
- Participate in a local drug-take-back program.
- Promote a drug-free lifestyle by lighting up your business or organization in red.
- Display fact sheets and Red Ribbon Week notices in your office.
- Sponsor a Red Ribbon Week activity (e.g., poster contest or fun run).
- Create a bulletin board display about Red Ribbon Week.
- Talk to your children about the dangers of drug abuse and improperly disposing of medicine.
- Post a red ribbon photo on social media using the hashtag #DEARedRibbon.
- Share facts and Red Ribbon Week activities with family, friends, and colleagues.
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