ARLINGTON – The Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) spring National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day will be held on Saturday, April 27. The Arlington County Police Department (ACPD) is encouraging the community to take advantage of this designated day to clean out your medicine cabinets to help prevent the risk of prescription drugs falling into the wrong hands, and ensure their proper disposal in one of four permanent drug take-back boxes as improper disposal of medication can potentially contaminate our water supply.
During the DEA’s fall National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, held in October 2023, 599,897 pounds of prescription drugs were collected nationwide, adding to the more than 17.9 million pounds collected since the beginning of the program. ACPD reminds community members of the importance of participating in this potentially life-saving program as pharmaceutical drugs can be dangerous when taken without a prescription or a doctor’s supervision.
Permanent Drug Take-Back Locations in Arlington County
ACPD offers four permanent drug take-back boxes where community members can anonymously dispose of unused, unwanted and potentially dangerous prescription drugs for free. The public can safely dispose of prescription medications 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year with no questions at the following locations:
Fire Station #2
4805 Wilson Boulevard
Arlington, VA 22203
Fire Station #5
1750 S. Hayes Street
Arlington, VA 22202
Fire Station #9
1900 S. Walter Reed Drive
Arlington, VA 22204
Arlington County Police Department
2000 block of 14th Street N.
Arlington, VA 22201
Items accepted at the drug take-back boxes are prescriptions, vitamins, prescription ointments, pet medications, prescription patches and over-the-counter medications. Items not accepted are needles, inhalers, aerosol cans, thermometers, lotions or liquids and hydrogen peroxide. Free drug deactivation bags are also available through the Department of Human Services.
Resources and Services
If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, there are numerous treatment resources available in Arlington and through the Department of Human Services. Visit OneArlington to learn more about Arlington’s comprehensive opioid response.
