Washington, D.C. (April 24, 2019) – Don’t toss your meds. Saturday, April 27th is National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. It’s an initiative by the Drug Enforcement Administration or DEA to encourage consumers to safely and conveniently dispose of their unused or expired prescriptions in a responsible way. It is estimated that in 2017 alone more than six million Americans misused controlled prescription drugs. The DEA’s Take Back Day provides an opportunity for Americans to prevent drug addiction and overdose deaths.
The National Prescription Drug Take Back Day addresses a crucial public safety and public health issue. According to the 2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 6 million Americans misused controlled prescription drugs. The study shows that a majority of abused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet. Different sites across the country will be open Saturday to allow residents to bring in their prescription drugs. For a listing of locations around the country of where you can drop off your medications, click here. TAKEBACK LOCATIONS
The DEA hosts National Prescription Drug Take Back Day twice a year. At the last event in October 2018, there were nearly 6,000 sites set up across the country where some 914,000 tons of medications were collected. Now in its 9th year, the DEA initiative is responsible for collected over 10-million pounds of drugs. This effort is one way to help fight the opioid epidemic that’s griping our country.
Opioid abuse is at epidemic levels in the U.S., and remains a top public health concern. Consumers should dispose of expired, unwanted, or unused medicines as quickly as possible to help reduce accidental or intentional overdoses or illegal abuse. The DEA’s “Take-Back” initiative is one of several strategies to reduce prescription drug abuse and diversion in the nation.
Over in Prince George’s County, The Health Department’s Behavioral Health Services’ Alcohol & Drug Prevention Program is partnering with the Prince George’s County Police Department and the Prince George’s County Department of Parks and Recreation for a medication drop-off site event this Saturday, April 27th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Palmer Park Community Recreation Center, 7720 Barlowe Road, Landover, MD 20785. Here’s a complete list of sites in Prince George’s.
Prince George’s County National Prescription Drug Take Back Day Drop-off Sites:
*All drop-off sites will be open to the public on Saturday, April 27 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.*
Palmer Park Community Recreation Center
7720 Barlowe Road
Landover, MD 20785
(301) 773-5665
Prince George’s County Police Department
Northern Collection Site, District I
5000 Rhode Island Avenue
Hyattsville, MD 20781
(301) 699-2630
Prince George’s County Police Department
Central Collection Site, District III
7600 Barlowe Road
Landover, MD 20785
(301) 772-4901
Hyattsville Police Department
4310 Gallatin Street
Hyattsville, MD 20781
(301) 985-5060
Maryland State Police
Forestville Barrack
3500 Forestville Road
District Heights, MD 20747
(301) 568-8101
Maryland State Police
College Park Barrack
10100 Rhode Island Avenue
College Park, MD 20740
(301) 345-3101
University of Maryland Police Department
Pocomoke Building
7569 Baltimore Avenue
College Park, MD 20742
(301) 405-3555
Greenbelt Police Department
550 Crescent Road
Greenbelt, MD 20770
(301) 474-7200
Bowie Police Department
15901 Excalibur Road
Bowie, MD 20716
(240) 544-5700
Laurel Police Department
811 15th Street
Laurel, MD 20707
(301) 498-0092
Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) Headquarters
14501 Sweitzer Lane
Laurel, MD 20707
(301) 206-8888