Prescription Drug Take-Back Set for April 27 in Broadneck

The Natural Resources Police announced they will again be accepting unwanted and expired prescription drugs as part of a national "take-back day" on April 27.

Authorities will collect pharmaceutical drugs at several locations throughout the county, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., according to a department news release.

"This one-day effort will bring national focus to the issue of pharmaceutical controlled substance abuse," police said.

The national initiative is organized by the Drug Enforcement Administration, and drop off locations around the country are available on the DEA website.

In addition to the single-day event, the department will be showcasing its newly-installed drop boxes that will be a permanent resource for the public to drop off medications year-round.

The Broadneck drop-off location is 1070 East College Parkway.

Residents can also drop off their unwanted medications anonymously at these four districts across Anne Arundel County:

• Northern District - 939 Hammonds Lane, Pumphrey
• Eastern District - 3700 Mountain Road, Pasadena
• Western District - 8273 Telegraph Road, Odenton
• Southern District - 35 Stepneys Lane, Edgewater

Police provided these tips for people planning to participate in the take-back day:

• Controlled, non-controlled, and over the counter substances may be collected
• This program is anonymous and no requests for identification will be made.
• Participants may dispose of medication in its original container or by removing the medication from its container and disposing of it directly into the disposal box. If an original container is submitted, the individual should be encouraged to remove any identifying information from the prescription label.
• All solid dosage pharmaceutical product and liquids in consumer containers may be accepted. Liquid products, such as cough syrup, should remain sealed in their original container. The depositor should ensure that the cap is tightly sealed to prevent leakage.
• Intravenous solutions, injectibles and syringes will not be accepted due to potential hazard posed by blood-borne pathogens.
• Illicit substances such as marijuana or methamphetamine are not a part of this initiative and should not be placed in collection containers. If an individual attempts to surrender an illicit controlled substance, law enforcement personnel should handle such material as abandoned property in accordance with department policy.
• All participants must retain possession of their own medication during the surrender process.