Prescription Drug Take-Back Day Coming To Arlington In Late April

ARLINGTON, VA — The public will get the opportunity to safely dispose of unused and unwanted prescription drugs at two locations in Arlington on Saturday, April 30.

The Arlington County Police Department, in partnership with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, will participate in the 22nd Annual National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This disposal service is free and anonymous.

The event is held to prevent pill abuse and theft by letting people remove potentially dangerous prescription drugs from their homes. Unused prescription drugs that are thrown in the trash have the potential of being retrieved and used, while medications that are flushed contaminate the region's water supply, the ACPD said.

The ACPD and DEA will accept tablets, capsules, patches, other solid forms of prescription drugs and vape pens or other e-cigarettes after the batteries are removed from the devices. Liquids, including intravenous solutions, syringes and other sharps, and illegal drugs will not be accepted at the event.

ACPD officers will be collecting prescription medications at the following sites on Saturday, April 30 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.:

• Arlington County Police Department, 1425 N. Courthouse Road
• Fire Station #5, 1750 S. Hayes Street

Arlington County also has four permanent drug take-back boxes. Since starting the permanent drug take-back program in June 2018, more than 8,000 pounds of medication have been collected.

Items accepted at the drug take-back boxes are prescriptions, vitamins, prescription ointments, pet medications, prescription patches and over-the-counter medications. Items not accepted are needles, inhalers, aerosol cans, thermometers, lotions or liquids and hydrogen peroxide.

The public can dispose of prescription medications 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year with no questions asked at these locations in Arlington:

• Fire Station #2, 4805 Wilson Boulevard
• Fire Station #5, 1750 S. Hayes Street
• Fire Station #9, 1900 S. Walter Reed Drive
• Arlington County Police Department, 1425 N. Courthouse Road

Arlington County offers services for people struggling with addiction through its Department of Human Services. Assistance is also available through Operation Safe Station, a designated safe environment where people can self-report and receive services, without fear of prosecution and incarceration.