Alexandria residents will have the opportunity to clean out their medicine cabinets and safely dispose of unused or expired medications during National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, October 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Alexandria Police Department, Alexandria Sheriff’s Office, and Alexandria Health Department — in cooperation with the Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition of Alexandria — will staff four drop-off locations across the city as part of the Drug Enforcement Agency’s nationwide initiative.
Residents can dispose of prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, and even medications prescribed by veterinarians at Walgreens Pharmacy at Bradlee Shopping Center (3614 King St.), Alexandria Police Department Headquarters (3600 Wheeler Ave.), Fire Station 210 (5255 Eisenhower Ave.), and The Neighborhood Pharmacy of Del Ray (2204 Mt. Vernon Ave.). The service is free, anonymous, and no questions will be asked. Needles and syringes, however, cannot be accepted at these collection sites.
The initiative addresses a critical public safety concern: studies show that most misused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, often from home medicine cabinets. Many Americans are unaware that medications stored at home are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Improper disposal methods — such as flushing medications down the toilet or throwing them in the trash — can also create environmental and public health hazards. The drug take-back program supports Alexandria’s Eco-City initiative, which promotes healthier living while reducing environmental impact.
For residents who can’t make it to the October 25 event, the city maintains three permanent medication drop box locations: The Neighborhood Pharmacy (2204 Mount Vernon Ave.) is open Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., while both Alexandria Police Headquarters (3600 Wheeler Ave.) and Inova Alexandria Hospital (4320 Seminary Rd., Emergency Department) offer 24/7 access. The hospital location also features a needle disposal box for safe syringe disposal.
