Northern Virginia communities and the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) are banding together to organize a Prescription Drug Take-Back Day program.
The Prince William County, Manassas, and Haymarket police departments have all partnered alongside the DEA.
The drug take-back was organized to get rid of unused or expired prescriptions in a safe and legal format, according to a release from the Prince William County Police Department (PWCPD). It will focus on over-the-counter medications, such as tablets and capsules.
The event will be held on April 30 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The process is straightforward, allowing participants from different areas to pick different locations where they can drop off their medications. There will be three sites around Prince William County: UVA Health System Prince William Medical Center, 8700 Sudley Road in Manassas; UVA Health System Haymarket Medical Center, 15225 Heathcote Boulevard in Haymarket; and Sentara Lake Ridge, 12825 Minnieville Road.
If privacy is a concern, peel off the labels that contain confidential information, like names and their contact information, before turning the containers in. You can also blacken it out using a permanent marker.
It is essential to dispose of your prescription drugs responsibly. Medication can enter the water supply if flushed, causing it to pollute nearby areas. Further guidance regarding disposal can be found on the Prince William County Service Authority (PWCSA) website.
If participants cannot make it to the Prescription Drug Take-Back Day event, they can still dispose of unused and expired prescriptions properly wherever they live. When thrown away, it should be taken outside of its bottle and put into a container that holds kitty litter or coffee grounds.
Call the Crime Prevention Unit at (703) 792-7270 for additional details about the program, or go to the county’s website.
This article was written by Contributing Writer Nicholas Nohe.
