From 10 AM to 2 PM on Saturday, October 26, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), an agency of the U.S. Department of Justice, will conduct a National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of out-of-date or unwanted over-the-counter and prescription drugs.
“This DEA initiative puts the spotlight on the prescription drug problem in our County and around the Country at the same time that we are bringing attention to the problem with our 2013 ‘Prescription to Addiction’ Awareness Golf and Gala event,” said Mary Kramer, Chairman of the Talbot Parent Coalition. “We support the DEA’s efforts, and we hope every family in Talbot County will take this opportunity to clean out their medicine cabinets and take all unneeded over-the-counter and prescription drugs to one of the collection points.
“Parents need to understand that overwhelming evidence shows that abuse of prescription and over-the-counter medicines by young people may lead to heroin use. Studies have shown that 19 percent of teenagers — almost one out of every five — have used prescription medicines to get high. And teens are more likely to abuse medications than they are to use illegal drugs such as Ecstacy, cocaine, or heroin.”
Parents in Talbot County have access to two year-round collection points as well as the two collection venues that will be in operation on National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. The secure Talbot County Drug Drop Box is available daily from 5 AM until 9 PM in the lobby of the Talbot County Public Safety Center, 115 West Dover Street in Easton. Unused or out-of-date prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and pet medicines can be dropped off and will be safely disposed of.
Hill’s Drug Store at 30 East Dover Street accepts unused and expired medications from any drug store/pharmacy year-round. The medications must be in their original containers.
As part of the National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on October 26th, materials can be dropped off from 10 AM until 2 PM at the Maryland State Police Barracks at 7053 Ocean Gateway in Easton or at the Easton Police Department, 106 West Dover Street. All drop-offs can be conducted anonymously.
The Miles River Sail and Power Squadron, supported by the Talbot County Sheriff’s Office, will collect prescription medicine for disposal on Wednesday, October 23 from 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM at the Talbot Senior Center, 123 Brookletts Avenue in Easton and on Friday, October 25 from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM at the Easton Safeway located at 139 North Washington Street.