The Alexandria Police Department’s headquarters and other sites in the city will once again participate in National Prescription Take Back Day, which is returning to communities across the country this Saturday (Oct. 24).
Led by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the initiative encourages people to clean out their medicine cabinets and safely dispose of unneeded prescription and over-the-counter drugs.
The APD and Alexandria Sheriff’s Office will manage four drop-off sites from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.:
- Alexandria Police Department Headquarters (3600 Wheeler Avenue)
- Fire Station 210 (5255 Eisenhower Avenue)
- The Neighborhood Pharmacy of Del Ray (2204 Mt. Vernon Avenue)
- Walgreens Pharmacy (3614 King Street)
“Volunteers at each site will share information about the importance of safe medication disposal and promote the City’s permanent medication drop boxes,” the City of Alexandria said in a press release. “Volunteers will also distribute free drug disposal pouches to encourage safe medication disposal at home.”
Any unused and expired medications will be accepted, but needles are not. Needles and syringes can be disposed of at Inova Alexandria Hospital (4320 Seminary Road), whose emergency department features a permanent drop box.
The city has three permanent medication drop boxes at Neighborhood Pharmacy, the APD’s headquarters and Inova Alexandria’s emergency department.
Free drug disposal kits are also available as part of a Virginia campaign to combat opioid addiction at locations throughout the state, including the Casey Health Center Pharmacy at 1220 North Howard Street in Alexandria.
Last year, Alexandria collected 2,052 pounds of unused medication, including through its drug take-back events, which occur two times a year.
More from the city on safe drug disposal:
Unused and expired medications that languish in home cabinets are susceptible to misuse, especially opioid prescriptions … Drugs are also an environmental hazard to waterways and should not be flushed down the toilet or sink. While most sewage is treated at wastewater treatment plants, these facilities are not always designed to process medication. Drugs can make their way into local waterways, affecting aquatic life. If you do not have access to safe drug disposal, check the medication bottles for instructions on disposal options. If no instructions are present:
- Remove medication from its original container. Do not crush.
- Mix medication with an inedible substance, such as kitty litter or coffee grounds.
- Place mixture in a sealable bag or container and throw away in the trash.
- Black out all personal information on the prescription label so it is unreadable.
Visit alexandriava.gov/SAPCA to learn more about ways to prevent substance use and misuse. Visit alexandriava.gov/Opioids for more information about Alexandria’s efforts to fight the national opioid epidemic.
Photo via Myriam Zilles on Unsplash
