Police Offer Opportunity to Get Rid of Old Medicine

Ever wonder what happens to the prescription drugs that you pour down the sink or flush down the toilet? Chances are pretty good that some of the old medicines might find their way into local waterways and ecosystems.

According to Beth McGee, a water quality scientist with the :

"Recent studies have documented a multitude of drugs and other pharmaceuticals in the rivers and streams in the Chesapeake basin, many of which have been flushed down the toilet. These findings are alarming and have raised concerns about potential effects of these chemicals on our aquatic resources."

Another alarming trend for leftover pharmaceuticals that you might leave around the house—they can make your home a target drug abusers who can't legally get a prescription. 

But how to get rid of them safely?

The Anne Arundel County Police Department, in cooperation with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will take back unused pills and medicines. This is part of a nationwide effort to prevent increased pill use and theft.

The 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.

According to a press release sent from the police department, prescription drug abuse in the United States is 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 often obtained from family and friends—from a home medicine cabinet.

But sometimes, people hang on to used medications because they simply don't know how to get rid of them. Should they flush them? Pour them down the sink? Throw them away? The answer to all those questions is no. All of those methods are potential safety and health hazards.

The best way to get rid of them is to return them to your doctor's office for proper disposal, or get rid of them at the Drug Take-Back initiative.

The service is free and anonymous.

These sites will offer drug drop-offs on Oct. 29 in coordination with the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA):

• Maryland Natural Resources Police
  1070 College Parkway (Broadneck) in Annapolis
• Annapolis Police Department
  199 Taylor Ave. in Annapolis
• Maryland Capitol Police
  29 St. John St. in Annapolis
• Naval Criminal Investigative Service
  181 Wainwright Rd. in Annapolis

The Anne Arundel County Police Department will be collecting potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted medicines for destruction at the four police district stations from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Oct. 29.

• Southern District station
  35 Stepney’s Lane in Edgewater
• Northern District station
  939 Hammonds Lane in Baltimore
• Eastern District station
  3700 Mountain Rd. in Pasadena
• Western District station
  8273 Telegraph Rd. in Odenton