Got drugs?  National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day is September 27th

On September 27, 2014 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Manassas City Police Department will be participating with the Prince William County Police Department, the Prince William County Crime Prevention Council, and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in the DEA National Drug Take-Back Initiative.

The Manassas collection site will be Novant Health Prince William Medical Center, located at 8700 Sudley Road.  The national event, held biannually, will give the public another opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs, according to Adrienne Helms, crime prevention specialist for Manassas City Police Department.

The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.

This 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.

DEA is drafting regulations to implement the Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal Act of 2010. 

Until new regulations are in place, local law enforcement agencies like Manassas City and Prince William County Police Departments will continue to host DEA prescription drug take-back events every few months. 

To search for a collection site near you, visit http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback/.