March 28, 2024
Annapolis, US 51 F

October 28th, turn in your unused and unwanted drugs

On Saturday, October 28, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the Annapolis Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will give the public its 14th opportunity in seven years to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs.  Bring your pills for disposal to the Annapolis Police Department at 199 Taylor Avenue.  (The DEA cannot accept liquids or needles or sharps, only pills or patches.)  The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.

Mayor Michael Pantelides supports this program as part of our ongoing partnerships focused on preventing drug abuse and substance abuse in Annapolis.

Last April, Americans turned in 450 tons (over 900,000 pounds) of prescription drugs at almost 5,500 sites operated by the DEA and more than 4,200 of its state and local law enforcement partners.  Overall, in its 13 previous Take Back events, DEA and its partners have taken in over 8.1 million pounds—about 4,050 tons—of pills.

This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue.  Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs.  Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines—flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash—both pose potential safety and health hazards.

For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs or about the October 28 Take Back Day event, go to the DEA Diversion website.  The Annapolis Police Department also has a permanently installed medication disposal box in our lobby.  This disposal box is open normal business hours, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. excluding holidays.

Previous Article

APD’s Howlin’ Hustle this weekend

Next Article

Daily News Brief | October 24, 2017

You might be interested in …