The Anne Arundel County Police Department would like to thank all of the citizens that participated in a very successful “Prescription Drug Take Back Initiative”. The event was held on Saturday, April 27, 2013, and was sponsored by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Anne Arundel County Police Department.
Officers report that there were “several hundred bottles” of expired and unused medications collected. Collection sites were established at each of the county’s four police districts. In total, the county collected five containers of various pharmaceutics weighing approximately 185 pounds. Each district was manned with a representative from the Police Department as well as a DEA investigator to answer any questions or concerns about medications getting into to the wrong hands and the abuse of prescribed medication. Citizens were informed of the harm caused by flushing the unused medication down the toilet and how it affects the water, septic systems, the environment and overall public safety.
This event was held on a national level and the Anne Arundel County Police Department was proud to assist the Drug Enforcement Administration and the local community in this program. Citizens are reminded that there are drop boxes for unused medication in the lobby of each of the four police districts. These drop boxes are available to the public 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The boxes are provided so that unused medications can be disposed of in a safe manner.
“Prescription drug abuse is a major public safety issue and I want to remind citizens to continue to take full advantage of the drop boxes provided for them at our four district stations,” said Chief of Police Larry W. Tolliver. “I applaud the community’s involvement in this initiative as citizens clearly realize the importance of disposing of these medications in an environmentally safe way.”
