[Archived] Fourth Prescription Drug Take Back Day a Success in Alexandria

The Alexandria Police Department and the Alexandria Sheriff’s Office collected 227 pounds of potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs for destruction at the fourth National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.

On Saturday, April 28, 2012, from 10 A.M. to 2 P.M., the two Alexandria law enforcement agencies, with cooperation from the Substance Abuse Coalition of Alexandria, collected potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs and other medications for destruction at three sites in the City.

Over 5000 collections sites nationwide participated in the fourth take back day program this past Saturday and over 3,150 pounds were collected in the Northern Virginia area alone.  In Alexandria, residents dropped off unused prescription medications at three drop sites in the City.  The sites included Police Headquarters, the George Washington Masonic Memorial and the parking lot of the Del Ray Pharmacy. The service was free and anonymous.

Last fall, the two Alexandria law enforcement agencies collected over 148 pounds of prescription drugs for destruction in the third ever take back initiative.

This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Many Americans are not aware that medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse. 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. 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.

Other participants in this initiative include the Partnership for a Drug-Free America; the International Association of Chiefs of Police; the National Association of Attorneys General; the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy; the Federation of State Medical Boards; and the National District Attorneys Association.