Loudoun, DEA Plan 5th Drug Take-Back

The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office, the Leesburg Police Department and the Purcellville Police Department have planned another prescription drug “Take-Back” event in partnership with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) intended to prevent prescription drug abuse and theft.

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 29, Loudoun’s law enforcement agencies will accept expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs at four sites in the county, and destroy them. The collection sites include:

• the Eastern Loudoun Sheriff’s Station located at 46620 East Frederick Drive in Sterling
• the Dulles South Public Safety Center located at 25216 Loudoun County Parkway in South Riding
• the Lansdowne Public Safety Center located at 19845 Sandridge Way in Lansdowne
• the Leesburg Police Department located at 65 Plaza Street in Leesburg
• the Purcellville Police Department located at 250 Nursery Avenue in Purcellville

The service is free and anonymous, with no questions asked.

“This program addresses a critical public safety and health issue,” said Loudoun Sheriff Mike Chapman, a former special agent with the DEA.

Loudoun County law enforcement agencies collected nearly 600 pounds prescription drugs during the last collection.

Many Americans are not aware that medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to misuse and abuse, potentially resulting in accidental poisonings and overdoses. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.

Many people do not know how to properly dispose of their unused medicine, often flushing them down the toilet or throwing them away – both potential safety and health hazards.

Collection sites in every local community can be found by going to www.dea.gov.