April 27th community drop-off event is an opportunity to prevent drug addiction and overdose deaths
LARGO, MD – Prince George’s County residents can safely discard old or unwanted prescriptions and over-the-counter medications when the County participates in the spring edition of National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. The initiative, led by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), allows for a convenient and responsible way of disposing unused or expired prescription drugs while helping address a national public health issue.
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. See below for a list of other drop-off sites across the county for that day.
“With the meteoric rise of addiction and death from opioid use across the country and the region, it’s more important than ever to be careful and responsible with prescribed medications,” said Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks. “I urge residents to clean out their medicine cabinets of old medications and not to share their medications with others.”
These events let people surrender pharmaceutical controlled substances and other medications to law enforcement for destruction. The drop-off program is completely anonymous, no identification is requested of people disposing of prescription medications, and therefore removing identifying labels from containers is encouraged.
Liquid medications should be in a sealed container to prevent leakages (Ziploc bag). Other medications (pills, tablets, etc.) will be disposed of directly into the disposal box, and their original containers can be put in a recycling bin. The department will not accept needles or injectable medication. Any other type of medication is accepted (controlled, non-controlled, or over the counter).
“Modern medicine can improve and save lives, but we must continue to address the dark side of pharmaceuticals,” said Prince George’s County Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Health, Human Services, and Education Dr. George Askew. “Unused, misused or expired prescription drugs can lead to significant public health and public safety issues. National Prescription Drug Take Back Day makes a difference.”
According to the DEA, more than 11,000 pounds of old or unwanted medications were collected in Maryland during last fall’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day; more than 900,000 pounds were collected nationally.
To save more lives and educate people about the dangers of opioid misuse, naloxone training will also be available to anyone who drops off their unwanted prescription medications during these events. Naloxone reverses an opioid overdose and helps prevent death. The Prince George’s County Health Department also offers free naloxone training and free intranasal naloxone kits.
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
To learn more about the DEA’s Drug Take Back Day, visit: https://takebackday.dea.gov/
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