Drug Take Back Day: Free, responsible disposal system

The 26th national Prescription Drug Take Back Day is April 27. Joshua Coleman photo from Unsplash.

Delawareans can discard their expired or unused medications at locations statewide between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday, April 27, during the 26th national Prescription Drug Take Back Day.

The biannual event, aimed at reducing the risk of prescription medications being diverted for misuse, has collected nearly 120,000 pounds of medications in Delaware since 2010.

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Medications to be disposed must be in a container – such as a pill bottle, box, blister pack or zipped plastic bag – with personal information removed. Liquid medications must be in their original containers. Vape pens and e-cigarettes will be collected i batteries are removed.

Drug takeback sites

About 20 sites will be participating, according to a Drug Enforcement Administration list, noting that the lineup is updated daily.

The sites are scattered around Delaware, but there are no sites in the Brandywine Hundred, Hockessin or Pike Creek area.

• • Blades Police Department, 204 W. Fourth St.
  • Camden Police Department, 1783 Friends Way
  • Camden Walgreens, 2480 S. du Pont Highway
  • Christiana Care Surgical Center, 4755 Ogletown Stanton Road
  • Frawley Stadium, 801 Shipyard Drive, Wilmington
  • Laurel Police Department, 205 Mechanic St.
  • Lewes Police Department, 129 Schley Ave.
  • Lewes Ferry Terminal, 43 Cape Henlopen Drive
  • Middletown Police Department, 130 Hampden Road
  • Milford Police Department, 401 N.E. Front St.
  • New Castle County Airport, 151 N. du Pont Highway, New Castle
  • New Castle County Police Department, 3601 N. du Pont Highway, New Castle
  • Newark Police Department, 220 S Main St.
  • Newport Police Department, 15 N. Augustine St.
  • Ocean View Police Department, 201 Central Ave.
  • Rehoboth Beach Police Department, 229 Rehoboth Ave.
  • South Bethany Police Department, 402 Evergreen Road
  • University of Delaware Police Department, 413 Academy St., Newark
  • Veterans Administration Hospital Police Department, 11601 Kirkwood Highway, Elsmere
  • Warner Elementary, 801 W. 18th St., Wilmington

The event is operated locally by the Delaware Division of Public Health. The drop-off points are staffed by the named police departments, plus the Delaware River and Bay Authority Police, Delaware State Police, the Red Clay School District public safety department and the Wilmington Police Department.

Help Is Here Delaware, a division initiative,  lists other spots where old and unwanted medications may disposed of year-round. They include pharmacies and libraries with Deterra bags,  which release carbon after water is added, making the drugs inactive. Drop boxes are also available at police departments and pharmacies year-round.

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Officials want people to use these methods because meds flushed in the toilet or rinsed down the sink can become part of groundwater, which may end up in drinking water.

And meds just left in medicine cabinets offer disturbing temptations. “Over half of teens say that they can easily obtain prescription drugs from their parents’ medicine cabinets,” according to Help Is Here.

Ken Mammarella

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