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DEA drug take-back comes to Philly this Saturday

Unused prescription pills? Don't flush them down the toilet.

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The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will hold its national drug take-back day this Saturday, Sept. 12, in dozens of locations throughout Philadelphia.

Residents are encouraged to bring in their unwanted, unneeded, or expired prescription drugs for safe disposal.

The DEA's Acting Administrator Chuck Rosenberg issued a public service announcement to go along with the tenth annual take-back event. 

“Prescription drug abuse is a huge problem and this is a great opportunity for folks around the country to help reduce the threat,” Rosenberg said.  "Please clean out your medicine cabinet and make your home safe from drug theft and abuse.”

The DEA considers the issue of prescription drug abuse "a vital public safety and public health issue." In 2012, U.S. doctors wrote 259 million prescriptions for painkillers. The adult population in the same year was 240 million. Medication that remains unused in a household becomes more likely to be abused. According to numerous studies, many prescription drug abusers get the drugs from the homes of family and friends.

Lastly, the administration warns that flushing medications down the toilet can pose a public safety threat.

Since the DEA began the take-back events in 2010, they have collected almost 5 million pounds (2,411 tons) of prescription medication.

Here are the take-back locations for Philadelphia on Saturday.

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