Alexandria Collects 442 Pounds of Unwanted Medication in Drug Take Back

Mary Wadland April 29, 2021

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Sheriff Dana Lawhorne, Deputy Angela Speight, Investigator Victor Ignacio and Captain Sean Casey outside The Neighborhood Pharmacy in Del Ray. (Photo: Sheriff's Department, City of Alexandria) — Sheriff Dana Lawhorne, Deputy Angela Speight, Investigator Victor Ignacio and Captain Sean Casey outside The Neighborhood Pharmacy in Del Ray. (Photo: Sheriff’s Department, City of Alexandria)

ALEXANDRIA, VA – “We had an incredible turnout for Drug Take Back over the weekend!” stated Amy Bertsch, Communications Specialist for the City of Alexandria, referring to the event over April 23-24, 2021, when people can turn in medications they are not using.

According to the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 9.7 million people misused prescription pain relievers, 4.9 million people misused prescription stimulants, and 5.9 million people misused prescription tranquilizers or sedatives in 2019. The survey also showed that a majority of misused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet.

In total, the Sheriff’s Office and the Police Department collected 442 pounds of unwanted medications from four drop off sites.

Man dropping off medications at Fire Station 510 on Eisenhower Avenue where Deputy Antonio Greene was working. (Photo: Sheriff's Department, City of Alexandria) — Man dropping off medications at Fire Station 510 on Eisenhower Avenue where Deputy Antonio Greene was working. (Photo: Sheriff’s Department, City of Alexandria)

“If anyone missed it, they can still take advantage of the permanent collection boxes at Police Headquarters, Inova Alexandria Hospital and The Neighborhood Pharmacy in Del Ray,” said Bertsch.

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