Drop Off Unwanted Medicines on Drug Take-Back Day 2015

»Want more news? Subscribe to the daily Bowie email newsletter.

Bowie residents may safely dispose of unwanted or expired prescription and over the counter drugs at Saturday’s Drug Take-Back Day.

Drop off items between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. May 16 at the Bowie Police Department, 15901 Excalibur Road.

Disposing of medications through a drug take-back day is the safest option. If it is safe to dispose of a drug by flushing it down a toilet, the drug label or prescription information will indicate that option is an appropriate means of disposal.

Drugs should not be thrown in the trash unless these safety precautions are followed:

• Place unwanted or expired medication into a plastic bag (with a seal) or other empty container with a lid to prevent liquid medications from leaking out.
• Mix with kitty litter, coffee grounds or sawdust. (Liquid medications can be solidified using kitty litter or sawdust.)
• Seal the bag and/or container.
• Crush pills or tablets.
• Put the container and/or bag containing the medication into your regular household trash.
• Remove the label with the patient’s name from the original medicine vial or bottle.

Unused and/or expired medicines that remain in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Studies show that most abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.