NRP to Participate in 10th National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day

Maryland Natural Resources Police offices will participate in the 10th National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day this Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  Residents can drop off unwanted, unneeded or expired prescription drugs for safe and proper disposal.

These locations will be staffed by NRP personnel:
Broadneck office, 1070 East College Parkway, Annapolis;
Echo Lake office, 2011 Monument Road, Myersville;
Gwynnbrook office, 3738 Gwynnbrook Ave., Owings Mills; and
Hillsboro office, 3001 Star Road, Queen Anne.

“This is a great opportunity for Maryland residents to help reduce the threat of prescription drug abuse,” Lt. Col. Ken Ziegler Jr., NRP’s deputy superintendent said. “Make your home safer. Please clean out your medicine cabinet.”

The National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day addresses a vital public safety and health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to theft and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are at alarming rates, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs.

Studies show that many abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, many Americans do not know how to properly dispose of their unused medicine, often flushing pills and liquids down the toilet or throwing them away – both potential safety and health hazards.

Nationwide, the previous nine Take-Back events collected 2,411 tons of unwanted medication.