There was a record number of drugs collected on Prescription Drug Take Back Day, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration.
On Oct. 28, more than 4200 law enforcement agencies participated in Prescription Drug Take Back Day, a national effort created to combat the opioid crisis by collecting old and expired prescription medications.
According to a release by the DEA, a record-setting 912,000 pounds, or 456 tons of potentially dangerous, expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs were collected for disposal at more than 5000 collection sites nationwide.
Kern County participated in the 14th Prescription Drug Take Back Day with a dozen drop-off sites, collecting more than 1500 pounds of prescription drugs.
According to the DEA, 9,015,668 pounds, or 4,508 tons of prescription drugs have been collected since the fall of 2010.
The DEA said they also worked with tribal law enforcement partners this year to set up 115 collection sites on tribal lands.
The next Prescription Drug Take Back Day through the DEA is April 28, 2018.
RELATED: TPD: Over 160 pounds of medication collected during Prescription Drug Take-Back Day
