The Arlington Police Department, in coordination with the national efforts of the US DEA, is taking a stand against prescription drug misuse. Announced by the City of Arlington's official news, a Fall Drug Take Back event is slated for October 26th, giving locals a chance to safely discard expired or unused medications. To curb accidental overdoses and keep harmful substances out of our water supply, Arlington residents can swing by one of four collection sites to drop off their unwanted meds anonymously, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Providing options for proper disposal, the accepted items for the event include a variety of human and pet medications, over-the-counter, controlled, and non-controlled. Arlington Water Utilities is especially concerned about protecting the local waterways, which can be contaminated by improperly discarded drugs. For everyone's convenience, the event will take place at spots like Walgreens on Green Oaks Boulevard and the Medical City Arlington’s Lot A, among others. Understanding the importance of preserving the community's health and environment, participants must maintain possession of their medication until they are ready to dispose of it at the collection site.
Disposal of medications at the event is straightforward. Residents can bring pharmaceuticals in their original containers or remove them and put them directly into disposal boxes, designed to be incinerated later for safety. The aim is to provide an easy, no-fuss process, which doesn't require removing labels or repackaging the drugs beforehand. However, it's worth noting that not everything can be taken, intravenous solutions, syringes, illicit substances, and pressurized cartridges like inhalers are a no-go.
