Public Urged to Participate in National Prescription Drug Take-Back

From Carroll County Sheriff's Office:

The Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, state and local law enforcement will partner with the U.S. Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Administration on Saturday, October 22nd, 2016, and encourage residents to clean out their medicine cabinets as part of this year’s national prescription drug take-back initiative. The event is designed to provide the public with an environmentally safe alternative to disposing of medications in area landfill or sewer systems while reducing the opportunity for unauthorized access to dangerous and addictive medications through accidental contact or deliberate abuse. This initiative assists residents by providing a safe and convenient way to dispose of potentially dangerous controlled substances or other unused and expired pharmaceuticals.

There are several Medication Waste Disposal stations located in Carroll County, which are available throughout the year. The drop boxes are located at all three Carroll County Sheriff’s Office locations, as well as the Maryland State Police Barrack in Westminster, and the main offices for the Hampstead Police, Manchester Police, Sykesville Police, Taneytown Police, and Westminster Police. Please contact the individual offices to confirm the hours of accessibility for these drop boxes.

Any unwanted or expired medication, both prescription and over the counter, in tablet, liquid, ointment, inhaler, powder or patch form will be accepted. Syringes, needles, thermometers, bandages, gauze pads, sun block, lipstick, deodorant, non-prescription skin crème and similar products will not be accepted. Loose pills or tablets as well as any liquid medication must be placed into a sealed plastic bag prior to dropping into a collection box.

For more information on the initiative, or other available locations, please visit the DEA Diversion website.

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock