Throwing away unused, expired, or unwanted medications is a fraught business—you can end up harming aquatic life if that carelessly tossed pill bottle makes its way into a river or stream.
But it’s important to get rid of old medications to prevent misuse (by yourself or others), per the Drug Enforcement Administration. So this Saturday, the Metropolitan Police Department is participating in the DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day again.
MPD will use their district stations as drop-off centers. Additional centers are located at Gallaudet University and Howard University.
Individuals may drop off their medication and pharmaceuticals at these locations from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.:
- First District Station (101 M Street SW)
- Second District Station (3320 Idaho Avenue NW)
- Third District Station (1620 V Street NW)
- Fourth District Station (6001 Georgia Avenue NW)
- Fifth District Station (1805 Bladensburg Road NE)
- Sixth District Station (5002 Hayes Street NE)
- Seventh District Station (2455 Alabama Avenue SE)
- Gallaudet University – Field House (800 Florida Avenue, NE)
- Howard University – College of Pharmacy (2300 4th Street NW)
For those who cannot make it to drop-off centers tomorrow, the D.C. Department of Health has a couple of recommendations for home disposal. First, you should remove or conceal anything that discloses personal information. They also suggest mixing the medication with cat litter, coffee grounds, or another “undesirable substance,” then putting that mixture into a closed bad or sealable container, and throwing it in the trash.
According to the DEA, D.C. has collected 18,353 pounds of medication and pharmaceuticals over the last 17 take back days. You may learn more about safe drug disposal and how to find help for substance abuse on Take Back Day’s website.
