CHESTERTOWN — The Chestertown Police Department and Kent County Behavioral Health’s Prevention Office are participating in National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, April 25.
At the downtown Farmers Market on High Street, from 8 a.m. to noon, Chestertown police officers will be on-site to collect unused or expired prescription medications, which pose a serious public safety issue if they are not disposed of properly.
“We encourage everyone to properly dispose of any unused medications they may have around their home. That simple action could save a life,” said CPD Chief Ronald Dixon.
Items that can be dropped off include unwanted medications, vitamins and supplements.
Vape pens, inhalers, sharps and needles will not be accepted.
This program is anonymous; no questions asked, no identification required.
Also available on Saturday will be free educational materials along with free disposal and storage solutions, like Deterra bags, from Kent County Behavioral Health’s Prevention Office.
Deterra bags allow for medication disposal right at home, without endangering the environment.
“Every time we dispose of our leftover medications properly, we help prevent substance misuse,” said Annette Duckery, KCBH’s prevention coordinator. “We know that most Kent County teens don’t drink alcohol or use other drugs, and together we can help keep it that way,” she said.
Leftover medications are extremely common. More than half of all prescription opioids go unused yet fewer than 9% of patients properly dispose of unused opioids, according to the National Library of Medicine.
Opioids include prescription pain medications like oxycodone, synthetic opioids like fentanyl and illegal drugs like heroin.
The National Prescription Drug Take Back Day aims to provide a safe, convenient and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of medications.
It’s an annual collection event sponsored by the Drug Enforcement Administration, which also sponsors a collection event each October.
In addition to this year’s Take Back Day initiative, Kent County has three 24-hour prescription drug drop-off locations: Chestertown Police Department, 601 High St.; Kent County Sheriff’s Office, 104 Vickers Drive, Unit B, Chestertown; and Rock Hall Police Department, 21447 Rock Hall Ave.
For more information about medication storage and disposal, and about substance use prevention, visit www.kentcountyprevention.org.
