Residents can safely dispose of unwanted, expired and unused prescription drugs.
Frederick, Md. (KM) – The Maryland State Police, along with other law enforcement agencies, are partnering with the US Drug Enforcement Administration this weekend for National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. “It gives people a chance to dispose of unwanted and unused prescription drugs and medications that were sitting in a medicine cabinet for a while, or, unfortunately, may have belonged to a loved one that passed away, or just don’t need for whatever reason, ” says Ron Snyder, spokesman for the Maryland State Police.
National Prescription Drug Take Back Day will be held Saturday, April 30th from 10:00 AM until 2:00 PM at all 23 State Police Barracks in Maryland, including the one in Frederick at 110 Airport Drive. The Frederick Police will collect unused, expired or unwanted prescription drugs at the Parking lot near the former Trinity School at Stadium Drive and New Design Road.
Snyder says one reason for collecting these drugs is to reduce the number of people who abuse drugs which are found in a family medicine chest. “There is fentanyl, carfentanil and heroin and drugs like that out there,” he says. “But many people get started by using drugs that are simply in their medicine cabinet. The more we can dispose of medications that aren’t needed, the better chances are that those who don’t need them don’t get a hold of them.”
The DEA says a majority of teenagers abusing drugs are finding unlimited supplies in their families’ medicine cabinets.
He also says National Prescription Drug Take Back Day has been very popular over the years. “Since 2010, Maryland residents have successfully removed more than 201,000 pounds of unused medications from their homes in an effort to prevent medication misuse and opioid addiction from ever starting,” says Snyder.
National Prescription Drug Take Back Day usually occurs in the fall and the spring. The State Police say during the October, 2021 event, more 830 pounds of unwanted and unused medications were collected. That includes 194.6 pounds from the Frederick Barrack; 108.35 pounds from the Westminster Barrack; and 52.25 pounds from the Waterloo Barrack in Howard County.
Last fall, 33 law enforcement agencies participated in National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, collecting 10,349 pounds of drugs form 105 collection sites.
If you can’t make it to this Saturday’s Prescription Drug Take Back Day, Snyder says you can still get rid of these medications at anytime at any State Police barrack. . “But we accept these medications 24/7, 365. We have drop off locations at all 23 barracks across the state,” he says.
By Kevin McManus