Get Prescription Meds Out Of House On Drug Takeback Day

MILLERSVILLE, MD — Residents can safely get rid of prescription and over-the-counter medicines on Saturday, Oct. 27, when the Anne Arundel County Police Department participates in the National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. The county will have five drop-off sites staffed so residents can dispose of controlled substances in their medicine cabinets. Expired, unwanted, or unused pharmaceutical controlled substances and other medications will be destroyed by law enforcement, according to a news release.

In addition to collecting medicines, police officers will showcase permanent drop boxes installed in each district station and police headquarters. These allow residents to dispose of unused or unwanted medications year-round in a secure environment. The same collection protocols established for the pill take back day will be in effect for the drop boxes.

On Saturday, Oct. 27, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., the Anne Arundel County Police Department will have a police representative at each of the county's four districts and police headquarters which will serve as collection sites:

• Police Headquarters, 8495 Veterans Highway, Millersville
• Southern District, 35 Stepneys Lane, Edgewater
• Western District, 8273 Telegraph Road, Odenton
• Eastern District, 204 Pasadena Road, Pasadena
• Northern District, 939 Hammonds Lane, Baltimore

(For more news like this, find your local Patch here. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app; download the free Patch Android app here. And like Patch on Facebook!)

Collection Day Procedures

• Controlled, non-controlled, and over-the-counter substances may be collected
• This program is anonymous and no requests for identification will be made.
• Participants may dispose of medication in its original container or by removing the medication from its container and disposing of it directly into the disposal box. If an original container is submitted, the individual should remove any identifying information from the prescription label.
• All solid dosage pharmaceutical product and liquids in consumer containers may be accepted. Liquid products, such as cough syrup, should remain sealed in their original container. The depositor should ensure that the cap is tightly sealed to prevent leakage.
• All participants must retain possession of their own medication during the surrender process.

Items Not Accepted

• Intra-venous solutions, injectables, and syringes will not be accepted because of the hazard posed by blood-borne pathogens. However there are separate syringe drop boxes located at the above locations.
• Illicit substances such as marijuana or methamphetamine should not be placed in collection containers. If someone attempts to surrender an illicit controlled substance, police should handle such material as abandoned property in accordance with department policy.

For additional information regarding the National Take-Back Initiative and drug disposal information, please visit the DEA website.

Image via Shutterstock