October 26 Drug Takeback Day proved a record haul

9:34 a.m.


October 26 Drug Takeback Day proved a record haul

BOSTON - The final tally is in from the 18th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on October 26, and the DEA's New England Field Division and its partners tallied up 92,875 pounds - or over 46 tons of expired, unused, unwanted prescription drugs, electronic vaping devices and cartridges - at 606 collection sites throughout New England over a four-hour timeframe.

The total far outpaces the first National Prescription Drug Take Back Day in September 2010, when the division collected 25,810 pounds of unwanted drugs.

"Thanks to the public 46 tons of unwanted, expired, unused, unwanted prescription drugs, electronic vaping devices and cartridges have now been taken out of harm's way across New England," said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle. "These events are only made possible through the hard work of our law enforcement, coalitions and community partners and DEA thanks each and every one of them for their efforts."

The following is a breakdown of collected weights in pounds for the six New England States:

CT - 6,958 lbs

MA - 30,959 lbs

ME - 31,180 lbs

NH - 12,266 lbs

RI - 4,778 lbs

VT - 6,734 lbs

Total- 92,875 lbs