Gaithersburg PD Participate in National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day

From Gaithersburg: On Saturday, April 29, 2017 the Gaithersburg Police Department will give residents an opportunity to prevent prescription drug abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs. Bring your unused medications for disposal to the Gaithersburg Police Station, located at 14 Fulks Corner Avenue, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on April 29. No liquids or syringes will be accepted. The service is free, anonymous, and there will be no questions asked. In addition, since June of 2014, a Prescription Drop Box has been available in the Gaithersburg Police Department lobby, accessible throughout the year from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. View a video about the service here.

The Drug Take-Back initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including 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 to our water supply.

For more information on the services of the Gaithersburg Police Department visit the Public Safety webpage atwww.gaithersburgmd.gov or call 301-258-6400.

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