Sheriff’s Office, Partners Holding Drug Take Back Event June 6 to Collect Potentially Dangerous Medications

For Immediate Release: June 1, 2015

To help prevent abuse and theft of medication, the Alexandria Sheriff’s Office, the Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition of Alexandria, and the Neighborhood Pharmacy of Del Ray are holding a Drug Take Back event, sponsored by the Del Ray Business Association (DRBA), on Saturday, June 6 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the 2200 block of Mount Vernon Avenue. This event is part of the Well Ray Festival, an outdoor celebration of health and wellness organized by businesses in Del Ray.

Deputies will be collecting potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs and other medications at The Neighborhood Pharmacy’s booth. The service is free and anonymous with no questions asked.

The Drug Take Back event addresses a critical public safety and public health issue. People may not be aware that medicines in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the United States exceed the combined rates of heroin, cocaine, and hallucinogenic drug use, and prescription drug abuse has resulted in thousands of fatal prescription drug overdoses, particularly from narcotic painkillers. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.

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. Bring expired, unused, and unwanted medications to the Well Ray Festival for safe and proper disposal.

For more information about this event, please contact Deputy Valarie Wright at 703.746.5017 or pharmacist Stacey Swartz of the Neighborhood Pharmacy at 703.836.1700.