City of Alexandria Offers Safe Disposal of Medication on Drug Take Back Day and Year Round

Media Contact: Emma Beall, SAPCA Coordinator, emma.beall@alexandriava.gov, 571.302.1022

Alexandria, Va. - The City of Alexandria encourages residents to safely dispose of unneeded prescription drugs, including those prescribed by veterinarians, and over-the-counter medications during National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.

A collection will take place on Saturday, April 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the following drop-off sites staffed by the Alexandria Police Department and the Alexandria Sheriff's Office:

• Alexandria Police Department Headquarters (3600 Wheeler Ave.)
• Fire Station 210 (5255 Eisenhower Ave.)
• The Neighborhood Pharmacy of Del Ray (2204 Mt. Vernon Ave.)
• Walgreens Pharmacy (3614 King St.)
• Wegmans (150 Stovall St.)
• Woodbine Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center (2729 King St.)

Needles are not accepted during the take back event. Visit the website for needle disposal and permanent medication drop-off locations.

Volunteers at each site will share information about the importance of safe medication disposal and promote the City's permanent medication drop boxes. Volunteers will also raise awareness about National Fentanyl Awareness Day on April 29 by sharing educational materials about the dangers of fentanyl and distributing free harm reduction bags containing Naloxone, a safe and easy-to-administer nasal spray that can save the life of someone experiencing an opioid overdose.

Unused and expired medications that languish in home cabinets are susceptible to misuse, especially opioid prescriptions. In 2024, the City collected 2,294 pounds of unused medication. Drugs are also an environmental hazard to waterways and should not be flushed down the toilet or sink. While most sewage is treated at wastewater treatment plants, these facilities are not always designed to process medication. Drugs can make their way into local waterways, affecting aquatic life. If you do not have access to safe drug disposal, check the medication bottles for instructions on disposal options. If no instructions are present:

• Remove medication from its original container. Do not crush.
• Mix medication with an inedible substance, such as kitty litter or coffee grounds.
• Place mixture in a sealable bag or container and throw away in the trash.
• Black out all personal information on the prescription label so it is unreadable.

Visit alexandriava.gov/SAPCA to learn more about ways to prevent substance use and misuse. Visit alexandriava.gov/Opioids for more information about Alexandria's efforts to fight the national opioid crisis.

For reasonable disability accommodation, contact christina.damhuis@alexandriava.govor 703.746.5694 or call Virginia Relay 711.