JOINT RELEASE:
St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office (SMCSO)
St. Mary’s County Health Department (SMCHD)
LEONARDTOWN, MD (April 16, 2019) – On Saturday, April 27, 2019 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office, in partnership with the St. Mary’s County Health Department and St. Mary’s County Elks Lodge #2092, will host a medication and sharps collection event for the community. This gives the public an opportunity to clear their homes of potentially dangerous, expired, unused and unwanted medications and sharps (needles/syringes). The service is free and anonymous – no questions asked.
Bring your prescription or over-the-counter medications and medical sharps for safe disposal to one of two locations:
- Elks Lodge: 45779 Fire Dept. Lane in California
- Sheriff’s Office Headquarters: 23150 Leonard Hall Drive in Leonardtown
In 2018, St. Mary’s County residents turned in nearly 1,462 pounds of prescription medications at community events and collection sites operated by the Sheriff’s Office. National Take Back Day events, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Administration and its partners, have taken in almost 11 million pounds—or 6,000 tons—of medications. Additionally, the Elks National Drug Awareness Program is the largest volunteer drug awareness program in the United States. The Elks are committed to eliminating the illegal use of drugs by all members of society and believe that in order to ensure a bright future for the country, it is essential that children be raised in a drug-free environment.
This initiative addresses a vital public health and safety issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to misuse and abuse, sometimes contributing to the opioid epidemic. Additionally, medical sharps that are not properly disposed of may expose your family, pets, local sanitation workers or emergency responders to needle stick injuries and potential infection. You can prevent injury, misuse and abuse of these substances, illness, and pollution by properly disposing of the medications, sharp objects and contaminated materials you use when administering health care at home.
For more information about the disposal of medical waste, prescription drugs and the April 27 Take Back Day event, visit: http://www.smchd.org/medical-waste-and-sharps-disposal/.
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