In the ongoing efforts against opioid misuse, one event supports a comprehensive opioid prevention strategy: the Annual Medication Takeback Day on Oct. 28.
This initiative, which is supported locally through the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s Medication Takeback Program, has emerged as a vital component of a comprehensive strategy to curb the opioid crisis and protect youth from the risks of drug experimentation. 
The Medication Takeback Program is just one of the many opioid prevention initiatives across Colorado that we support. They’re each important pieces of the state’s comprehensive strategy this life-and-death issue demands.
Understanding the Opioid Crisis
Opioids, recklessly marketed by unscrupulous pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors, have caused a wave of addiction and overdose deaths.
Often, the path to opioid addiction begins with curiosity and experimentation, including among the youth. In fact, our recent research for the Colorado Attorney General’s youth opioid prevention campaign showed that most kids who experiment with pills started by trying pills they found at home in their family’s medicine cabinets. The consequences can be devastating and long-lasting, making it essential to prevent such experimentation from happening in the first place.
The Power of Medication Takeback Day
The Annual Medication Takeback Day is a nationwide effort that encourages everyone to return their unused or expired prescription medications to designated drop-off locations. The significance of this event lies in its multifaceted approach to tackling the opioid crisis and safeguarding youth.
Medication Takeback Day underscores the belief that every pill counts. A single unused prescription pill can save lives by preventing youth experimentation and furthering the fight against opioid misuse. Moreover, it highlights the power of community action in solving complex societal problems.
As we come together for the Annual Medication Takeback Day, we take a collective step towards protecting our youth, reducing the availability of opioids, and preventing the often tragic consequences of addiction.
Take Action
Many Colorado communities will host events for National Prescription Drug Take Back Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. A list of drop-off locations is available at the National Prescription Drug Take Back Day website.
By safely disposing of unused medications, we contribute to the health and well-being of our communities, ensuring that curiosity doesn’t lead kids down a dangerous path. It’s an important initiative that holds the promise of a safer, healthier future for all.
