March 30, 2001 Update: Take Back poster is now available to download. Please use the poster to publicize the event with your friends and community.

The DEA Educational Foundation is asking for your help. As you know, prescription drugs are being misused and abused at alarming rates throughout the United States. As part of our efforts to address this problem, DEA will be collecting potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs for destruction at sites nationwide on Saturday, October 29, 2011 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. local time, all over the United States. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.

This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Many Americans are not aware that medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are increasing at alarming rates, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, many Americans do not know how to properly dispose of their unused medicine, often flushing them down the toilet or throwing them away – both potential safety and health hazards.

National Prescription Drug Take Back Day Website

Collection sites can be found by going to http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/takeback/. This site will be continuously updated with new take-back locations.

For more on the event, view the gallery.

The DEA Educational Foundation has been approved to participate in the 2011 Combined Federal Campaign of the National Capital Area (CFCNCA). For those of you not familiar with this campaign, the Combined Federal Campaign is the world’s largest and most successful annual workplace charity campaign, with more that 300 CFC’s throughout the country and internationally to help to raise millions of dollars each year.

Pledges made by Federal employees during the campaign season (September 1st to Dec. 15th) support eligible non-profit organizations that provide health and human service benefits throughout the world.

In the 2009 Combined Federal Campaign of the National Capital Area, Federal employees pledged more than $66.5 million to help people and communities in need through the 4,000 local, national and international participating charitable organizations. The CFCNCA achieved its record-breaking success due to the deep commitment of employees throughout the Federal government who gave their time and talent to keep the campaign a high priority.

The DEA Educational Foundation is proud to participate in the CFCNCA, and we certainly hope that Federal employees please consider the Foundation as a deserving recipient of their generosity. To make a larger impact in fighting drug abuse through education, we need everyone’s support. Don’t forget our CFC Number is 17007. If you have additional questions, please contact Bill Alden at bill.alden@deamuseum.org, or call him at 540-729-2551.

The event will be held on Thursday, September 30, 2010, in Washington, DC at the JW Marriott Hotel, 1331 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. VIP Reception is at 6PM, followed by the Dinner & Program at 7PM.

Learn more about the event:

Sponsorship Levels »
Lifetime Achievement Award Initiative »

Welcome to the DEA Educational Foundation

Welcome to the DEA Educational Foundation’s web site. Established in 2001, the DEA Educational Foundation is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit educational organization that exists to support the DEA Museum. Read More

DONOR SPOTLIGHT: Youth Rescue Initiative

When the campaign to bring Target America: Opening Eyes to the Damage Drugs Cause to New Orleans got underway, the Youth Rescue Initiative (YRI) became the first major sponsor of the exhibit. Why? Because Jim Bernazzani “gets it.” Read More

Jim Bernazzani, President of Youth Rescue Initiative

Youth Rescue Initiative

New Orleans, LA

When the campaign to bring Target America: Opening Eyes to the Damage Drugs Cause to New Orleans got underway, one of the first people that Museum Director Sean Fearns and Bill Beach, the Director of External Relations for the DEA Educational Foundation, sat down with was Jim Bernazzani, President of Youth Rescue Initiative. From the moment Jim heard about the exhibit, and its powerful story of the many costs and consequences of drug abuse, he was on board. As a matter of fact, Youth Rescue Initiative (YRI) became the first major sponsor of the exhibit. Why? Because Jim Bernazzani “gets it.”

A graduate of Harvard University, Jim reported to the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia on June 7, 1984. It was during his distinguished career as a lawman and crime fighter that Jim witnessed first-hand the effects of troubled youth on society. Prior to coming to New Orleans, Bernazzani served as Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Houston Division where he was responsible for investigations and operations targeting international drug cartels and other organized crime groups. Following the 9/11 terrorist attacks against America, Special Agent Bernazzani was promoted to Deputy Director for Law Enforcement at the Counterterrorism Center, Central Intelligence Agency. During May 2003, he was again promoted to Principal Deputy Director of the newly formed Terrorist Threat Integration Center. At the time of his appointment as Special Agent in Charge of the New Orleans Division, Special Agent Bernazzani acted as Deputy Assistant Director for international terrorism investigations and operations handled by the FBI.

His term in New Orleans led to numerous convictions against violent criminals and corrupt government officials. As Special Agent in Charge of the New Orleans Division, Mr. Bernazzani led the FBI response relative to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. For his work post Katrina/Rita, Mr. Bernazzani was awarded the 2006 Presidential Award for Meritorious Service. During May 2008, Mr. Bernazzani retired from the FBI after 24 years of distinguished service.

In October of 2008, Jim, along with the Georgusis family, co-founded Youth Rescue Initiative. Established in memory of Joey Georgusis, YRI is a comprehensive endeavor designed to assist at-risk youth in the greater New Orleans area overcome challenges and achieve success. Its mission is to create structured opportunities for positive growth in an effort to build character and discipline among today’s disenfranchised youth, thus improving the quality of life for all citizens of New Orleans.

“Educating children at a young age about the destructive nature of illegal drug use and the participation in illegal drug trade is critical in developing young adults who will have a positive impact on the community, said Bernazzani. “Youth Rescue Initiative applauds the DEA, the DEA Museum, and the DEA Educational Foundation for bringing this important exhibit to New Orleans.”

Jim, it is the DEA Museum and the DEA Educational Foundation that applauds you. You provided the necessary motivation and enthusiasm to others in order to ensure that this very important exhibit was successfully supported. We thank you, and Youth Rescue Initiative for their encouragement, enthusiasm, and financial support.

YRI recently celebrated its first anniversary as a public non-profit, and with Jim as President, we are encouraged to know that they will continue to sponsor programs designed to build skills and instill discipline to area at-risk youth as they grow into adulthood.

Target America: Opening Eyes to the Damage Drugs Cause, which is on display at the Louisiana State Museum/Old U.S. Mint in New Orleans, runs through November 24, 2010, Tuesdays through Sunday from 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM, with free admission.

The Rx Factor Exhibit

The Rx Factor: the Drug Dealer is Closer Than You Think mobile exhibit builds upon the commitment of the DEA Museum and the DEA Educational Foundation to provide the absolute finest method of drug abuse education possible. Learn More

Target America New Orleans Summary

Following a very successful exhibition at the Louisiana State Museum in New Orleans, Louisiana, Target America; Opening Eyes to the Damage Drugs Cause is moving on. Read More