Rockville Police To Hold Drug Take-Back Day

ROCKVILLE, MD — The Rockville City Police Department and the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office offer a safe, free and anonymous way to dispose of unwanted prescription and over-the-counter medications during National Drug Take-Back Day on Saturday, April 29.

In cooperation with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), city police and the county sheriff's office will accept leftover -- including expired -- prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. in the Rockville City Police Station parking lot, 2 W. Montgomery Ave. To make it quick and convenient, officers will be outside with easy drive-up and drop-off access, so there is no need to get out of your vehicle.

The take-back will accept pills or patches only. The following will not be accepted:

• Illicit drugs.
• Liquids.
• Sharps, such as needles, syringes or auto injectors for epinephrine or insulin.

All accepted medications will be destroyed by the DEA.

National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day is held as part of April's Earth Month in Rockville. The initiative aims to provide a convenient and responsible means of disposal, keeping drugs from potentially polluting our drinking water while educating the public about the potential for abuse or theft of these medications.

The Rockville City Police Station is one of over 50 participating locations throughout metropolitan Washington. Find other Take-Back Day locations here. For a list of permanent drop box locations and information about proper disposal of medications in the trash, visit here.

Last spring, the DEA and over 4,200 of its state, local, and tribal law enforcement partners collected 893,498 pounds of unwanted medicines - about 447 tons - at almost 5,400 sites spread through all 50 states, including 11,482 pounds at 78 sites across Maryland.

Learn more about National Drug Take-Back Day at www.dea.gov, or call Cpl. Ken Matney at 240-314-8922.

Image via Shutterstock