Prescription Take Back Day

The Washington Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is working with local law enforcement agencies, government, and public health organizations across the country to present its program, “Prescription Drug Take Back Day.” The event is scheduled for Saturday, April 28 from 10 a.m. through 2 p.m. The initiative, which began in September of 2010, is part of an effort to prevent the increasing problems of pill abuse and theft that occur nationwide.

Police Chief Thomas Manger has designated each of the county’s six Police District Stations and Police Headquarters as DEA Prescription Drug Take Back locations for this Drug Take Back Day. Each of these locations will accept expired, unused, or unwanted prescription drugs. Illicit drugs and needles cannot be accepted as a part of this program.

A collection box will be available for parking lot drop-off if weather permits. If there is inclement weather the drop-off will take place in the lobby of each station. The locations are:

1st District: 1451 Seven Locks Rd., Rockville
2nd District: 7359 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda
3rd District: 801 Sligo Ave., Silver Spring
4th District: 2300 Randolph Rd., Wheaton
5th District: 20000 Aircraft Dr., Germantown
6th District: 45 West Watkins Mill Rd., Gaithersburg
Headquarters: 2350 Research Blvd., Rockville

The DEA is particularly interested in medications containing controlled substances, but will accept any prescription medicines brought for disposal. All sites will take pills of all kinds. If possible, prescription labels should be removed or personal information should be blacked out; but pill bottles will still be accepted if the labels are attached. No questions will be asked. This is an opportunity to safely clean out a medicine cabinet of drugs that are no longer needed.

For additional ways of disposing old medications safely and legally, go to: www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback/index.html. All the medications returned on Drug Take Back Day will be incinerated by the DEA according to federal and state environmental guidelines.

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