Loudoun 'Take-Back' Day Nets 1,160 Pounds of Unused Prescription Drugs

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The first-ever locally run Prescription Drug “Take-Back” Day in Loudoun County on Saturday collected 1,160 pounds of unwanted and unused prescription drugs, the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office announced. This is one of the largest amounts ever collected at the one-day event since the program was started in Loudoun five years ago.

The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office, the Town of Leesburg Police Department, the Town of Middleburg Police Department and the Town of Purcellville Police Department carried out the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) initiative, which was established to prevent increased pill abuse and theft.

Since the inception of the DEA take-back program in 2010, more than 6,000 pounds of unwanted and unused prescription medications have been taken off the streets of Loudoun County. The DEA held their final national take-back day in September.

Rates of prescription drug abuse in the United States are increasing at alarming rates, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs, according to the sheriff’s office.

“Fifty-percent of overdose cases worked this year are directly attributed to prescription drugs. These unused and unwanted medications often fall into the wrong hands and are misused or abused, and this program ensures they are disposed of properly,” Loudoun County Sheriff Mike Chapman said in a statement.

National studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, many Americans do not know how to properly dispose of their unused medicine, often flushing them down the toilet or throwing them away – both potential safety and health hazards.

The next Loudoun County prescription drug take-back day is planned for this fall.