Rehoboth police to host prescription drug take-back day Oct. 24
The Rehoboth Beach Police Department will offer a prescription medication take-back event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 24, to provide people with a safe and legal way to dispose of unused or expired prescription medications. This partnership with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration will allow medications to be dropped off at the police department lobby, 229 Rehoboth Ave., Rehoboth Beach.
This nationwide prescription drug take-back initiative seeks to prevent pill abuse and theft. Unused or expired prescription medications are a public safety issue, leading to accidental poisoning, overdose and abuse. Pharmaceutical drugs can be just as dangerous as street drugs when taken without a prescription or a doctor’s supervision. The majority of those abusing prescription drugs, including teens, get them from family and friends or the home medicine cabinet. Unused prescription drugs thrown in the trash could be retrieved and abused or illegally sold. Unused drugs that are flushed can contaminate the water supply. Proper disposal of unused drugs saves lives and protects the environment.
During this initiative, prescription and over-the-counter solid dosage medications such as tablets and capsules will be accepted. Items not accepted include intravenous solutions, injectables, needles, hydrogen peroxide, compressed cylinders like asthma inhalers, iodine-containing medications, and thermometers. Illicit substances such as marijuana or methamphetamine will also not be accepted during National Take-Back Day. To protect privacy, participants can use a permanent marker to blacken out personal information on the labels, if they are unable to peel them off before turning them in. Vape pens or other e-cigarette devices will also be collected only after their batteries are removed.
The collection is quick, convenient, and secure, supervised by law enforcement. It is free and open to the public; no appointments are necessary. This program is anonymous, and no questions or requests for identification will be made. No effort will be made to count, inventory or log medications.
For more information, contact the Rehoboth Beach Police Department at 302-227-2577.
