Provided by Prince William County
On Saturday, April 24, 2021, the Prince William County Police Department joins the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and community partners to provide a safe, legal way to dispose of unused/expired prescription medications. Bring them to the collection sites from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., at Novant Health UVA Health System Prince William Medical Center, Novant Health UVA Health System Haymarket Medical Center or Sentara Lake Ridge.
This semiannual prescription drug “Take-Back” initiative seeks to prevent pill abuse and theft. According to the DEA:
- The majority of those abusing prescription drugs, including teens, get them from family and friends or the home medicine cabinet.
- Unused prescription drugs thrown in the trash can be retrieved and abused, or illegally sold. Unused drugs that are flushed can contaminate the water supply. Proper disposal of unused drugs saves lives and protects the environment.
- If a program is not available, take the meds out of their bottles, mix them with something unappealing and seal them in a bag or disposable container to throw away.
During this initiative, prescription and over-the-counter solid-dosage medications (tablets and capsules) are accepted. Intravenous solutions, injectables, needles, hydrogen peroxide, compressed cylinders, iodine-containing medications and thermometers are not accepted. To protect privacy, use a permanent marker to blacken out personal information on the labels, if unable to peel them off, prior to turning them in.
For more information, please call the Crime Prevention Unit at 703-792-7270.
