First Drug Take Back Event Of 2023 Planned In Alexandria

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Residents have the chance to turn in unwanted medications with no questions asked at the Drug Take Back Day planned by Alexandria police and sheriff's office Saturday.

Alexandria Police, Sheriff's Office and other law enforcement participate in the Drug Enforcement Administration's Drug Take Back Day. The event seeks to remove unused and unwanted drugs from homes that could be misused or abused.

There will be several collection locations from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday:

• Woodbine Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center (2729 King St.)
• Alexandria Police Department Headquarters (3600 Wheeler Ave.)
• Fire Station 210 (5255 Eisenhower Ave.)
• The Neighborhood Pharmacy of Del Ray (2204 Mt. Vernon Ave.)

Prescription and over-the-counter drugs will be accepted anonymously. Pet medications prescribed by veterinarians will also be accepted.

Needles are not accepted during the take back event, but there is a permanent drop box for needles and syringes at Inova Alexandria Hospital.

Drug Take Back Days are held twice a year as one strategy of tackling the opioid crisis. In 2022, the city collected 1,886 pounds of medications at Drug Take Back Day events and permanent drop boxes. Over 13,500 pounds of medications have been collected since 2010 in the city.

There are other ways to dispose of unwanted medications, including year-round drop boxes and drug disposal pouches.

Year-round medication drop boxes are available at these locations and times:

• The Neighborhood Pharmacy of Del Ray (2204 Mt. Vernon Ave.), available Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.; and Sunday, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
• Inova Alexandria Hospital (4320 Seminary Road, inside the visitor entrance and next to the cashier window), available daily, 8 a.m. -11 p.m.
• Alexandria Police Department (3600 Wheeler Ave., inside the front entrance, ring bell for access); available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Another option is the free Deterra drug disposal pouches that can be picked up at the Alexandria Health Department, located on the fourth floor of the Redella S. "Del" Pepper Community Resource Center, 4850 Mark Center Drive.

Other Drug Take Back Day locations around the U.S. can be found at dea.gov/TakeBackDay.