Arlington Police To Participate In Drug Take Back Day

ARLINGTON, MA — The Arlington Police Department will participate in the annual Drug Take Back Day Saturday, April 24.

Residents are invited to drop off unused medications in the Arlington Police Station lobby, 112 Mystic St., from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Drop-offs are anonymous. All liquid medication must be in sealed bottles, but there is no need to remove labels.

All collected drugs will be handed off to the DEA for destruction.

In October 2020, Americans turned in nearly 493 tons (more than 985,000 pounds) of prescription drugs at nearly 4,600 sites operated by the DEA, and more than 4,100 of its state and local law enforcement partners.

Unused medicines in home cabinets are highly susceptible to misuse, abuse or falling into the hands of children. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the country are alarmingly high, as are the rates of accidental poisonings and overdoses. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's National Survey on Drug Use and Health shows year after year that the majority of misused and abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including someone else's medication being stolen from the home medicine cabinet.

In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines — flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash — both pose potential safety and health hazards.

For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs or about the Oct. 24 Take Back Day event, go to www.DEATakeBack.com.