More than 987 pounds of expired or unused prescription medications were collected in greater Prince William County on
Saturday, October 26th, as the Crime Prevention Unit of the Prince William County Police Department, the City of Manassas
Police Department, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Novant Health Prince William Medical Center,
Heathcote Health Center and Sentara Lake Ridge all participated in the DEA’s “Take Back” initiative.
Last April, more than 840 pounds of expired prescription drugs and other medications were collected in greater Prince William
County. The nationwide prescription drug “Take-Back” initiative seeks to prevent pill abuse and theft. According to the DEA,
rates of prescription drug abuse in the United States are increasing at alarming rates, 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.
For more information, please call the Crime Prevention Unit at (703)792-7270.
