Bel Air Participates In National Drug Take Back Day

BEL AIR, MD — Those unused prescription drugs piling up in your medicine cabinet are a powerful lure. Prescription drug abuse often starts with a legal prescription, and the majority of drug abusers say they get their drugs from family and friends, including the home medicine cabinet, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration, or DEA.

Saturday, April 27, is your chance to dispose of them safely in Bel Air, before they end up in the wrong hands.

Several locations around Harford County will collect unused prescription drugs as part of the DEA's 17th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.

Since 2014, Harford County has recovered almost 30,000 pounds of unused prescription drugs. According to a statement from Harford County government officials, it has been recognized by the DEA "as a leader in the drug take back program" in cooperation with state and federal partners.

“I am proud that Harford County citizens understand how important it is to prevent these medicines from getting into the wrong hands,” County Executive Barry Glassman said in a statement. “Through National Drug Take Back Day and our other collection efforts, we are helping to prevent drug abuse while protecting the environment."

These locations are offering drug take back services from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 27:

• Harford County Government Administrative Building parking lot, 220 S. Main Street, Bel Air,
• Maryland State Police Barrack D, 1401 Belair Road, Bel Air
• Wegmans, 21 Wegmans Boulevard, Abingdon
• Havre de Grace Police Department, 715 Pennington Avenue, Havre de Grace

The service is free and anonymous. All pills will be accepted, but liquids, needles and sharps can’t be taken during this event. The Environmental Protection Agency offers guidance on disposing of sharps and other medical waste. The Food and Drug Administration offers tips on getting rid of liquid medicines that are expired or no longer needed.

If you can’t make it there/to any of those locations, find a drug take back site elsewhere.

These sites in Harford County also have 24-hour drop boxes for anonymous drop-offs anytime:

• Aberdeen Police Department, 60 N Parke St., Aberdeen
• Bel Air Police Department, 39 N. Hickory Avenue, Bel Air
• Harford County Sheriff’s Office, 45 S. Main Street, Bel Air
• Maryland State Police Bel Air Barrack, 1401 Belair Road, Bel Air
• Harford County Sheriff’s Southern Precinct, 1305 Pulaski Highway, Edgewood
• Havre de Grace Police Department, 715 Pennington Avenue, Havre de Grace
• Harford County Sheriff’s Northern Precinct, 3724 Norrisville Road, Jarrettsville

DEA Acting Administrator Uttam Dhillon said helping people dispose of unwanted, unused or expired prescription medications is one of the ways the agency works to break the cycle of addiction and drug overdose deaths.

“Addiction causes a tremendous amount of pain and suffering, not just for those addicted to drugs, but also for their families and friends,” Dhillon said in a news release.

Painkillers have fed into America’s opioid crisis, which the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has called a public health emergency that claims about 130 lives a day.

It’s not just opioids that pose dangers. Expired prescription drugs can be less effective or risky due to changes over time in chemical composition. Some expired medications are at risk of bacterial growth, according to the Food and Drug Administration. Expired antibiotics may not treat infections, leading to more serious illnesses and antibiotic resistance, the DEA said.

Over the years, the drug take back collections have yielded more than 11 million pounds — that’s more than 5,400 tons — of prescription drugs. Maryland collected 11,119 pounds of unwanted prescription drugs during the October 2018 take-back day, contributing to the total haul of more than 457 tons nationwide.

— By Patch editors Beth Dalbey and Elizabeth Janney.