Got Drugs? Get Rid Of Them Oct. 28 In Montgomery County

BETHESDA, MD — Residents across Montgomery county can safely clear unused or unwanted prescription drugs from their cabinets during National Drug Take-Back Day on Saturday, Oct. 28. Collection sites will be staffed between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. in Rockville, Bethesda, Chevy Chase and other communities, according to a county news release.

Drop-off locations will be open to the general public throughout Montgomery County. These locations will accept prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications only. Liquids, illicit drugs, needles, sharps and syringes cannot be accepted as part of this take-back program.

Officers will staff collection boxes in the parking lots of the following facilities or in facility lobbies:

• Bethesda: MCP 2nd District Police Station, 7359 Wisconsin Avenue

• Chevy Chase: Village of Friendship Heights Community Center, 4433 S. Park Avenue; Chevy Chase Village Police Station, 5906 Connecticut Avenue

• Damascus: Damascus Library, 9701 Main Street

• Gaithersburg: MCP 6th District Station, 45A West Watkins Mill Rd.; Gaithersburg Police Station, 14 Fulks Corner Avenue; Asbury Methodist Village – Lobby of Hefner Bldg., 417 Russell Avenue; Senior Living at Kentlands Manor, 217 Booth St., Kentlands

• Germantown: MCP 5th District Station, 20000 Aircraft Drive

• Rockville: Rockville City Police/Montgomery County Sheriffs, Rockville City Police Station, 2 W. Montgomery Avenue (Lobby of Rockville City Police building); Maryland State Police Rockville Barrack, 7915 Montrose Road; Bender Jewish Community Center (JCC) of Greater Washington, 6125 Montrose Road

• Silver Spring: MCP 3rd District Station, 1001 Milestone Drive, Fire Station 1, 8110 Georgia Avenue

• Takoma Park: Takoma Park Police at Takoma Park City Building Lobby, 7500 Maple Avenue

• Wheaton: MCP 4th District Station, 2300 Randolph Road

Residents are encouraged to bring in medications containing controlled substances, but will accept any medications brought for disposal. All sites will take pills and medication patches of all kinds. If possible, prescription labels should be removed or personal information should be blacked out. No questions will be asked.

Drugs should not be thrown in the trash unless specific safety precautions for safe disposal are followed. The County’s Division of Solid Waste Services offers these suggestions:

• 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.
• Place the empty plastic vial or bottle into your blue County recycling bin. Empty aerosol inhalers can also be recycled in recycling bins.

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