ACPD to Participate in National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day
April 18, 2012
MEDIA CONTACT: Dustin Sternbeck, 703.228.4331

April 18, 2012

ARLINGTON, Va. – On April 28, 2012 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Arlington County Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) 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. Bring your medications for disposal to the designated collection sites The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.

The Arlington County Police Department will be collecting prescription drugs at the following sites:
Fire Station #1
500 S. Glebe Road
Arlington, VA 22204

Fire Station #8
4845 Lee Highway
Arlington, VA 22207

Fire Station #9
1900 S. Walter Reed Drive
Arlington, VA 22204

For additional collection sites in Arlington County or sites across the region, visit the site locator at http://www.deadiversion.usdoj..../takeback/index.html .

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 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.


_____________________________
Captain Andy Penn
Second District Commander
Arlington County Police Department
1425 N. Courthouse Road
Arlington, Virginia 22201
Office: 703-228-4327
Email: cpenn@arlingtonva.us