The Arlington County Police Department is urging residents to participate in the Drug Enforcement Administration’s National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, scheduled for Saturday, October 25. The event provides an opportunity for community members to safely dispose of unwanted, unused, or expired prescription medications.
According to officials, improper disposal of medications can lead to accidental poisoning, overdose, and drug abuse. To address these concerns, Arlington County offers four permanent drug take-back boxes available 24 hours a day at Fire Station #2 on Wilson Boulevard, Fire Station #5 on S. Hayes Street, Fire Station #9 on S. Walter Reed Drive, and the Arlington County Police Department on the 2000 block of 14th Street N.
Accepted items include prescriptions, vitamins, prescription ointments, pet medications, prescription patches, and over-the-counter medications. Items such as needles, inhalers, aerosol cans, thermometers, lotions or liquids, and hydrogen peroxide are not accepted. Free drug deactivation bags are also provided by the Department of Human 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,” officials stated.
Arlington County Public Schools District enrolled 27,536 students during the 2023-24 school year (https://www.doe.virginia.gov/home). Washington Liberty High School had the highest enrollment among county schools with 2,904 students (https://www.doe.virginia.gov/home). White students were the largest ethnic group in local schools at 41.9% of total enrollment (11,534 students), followed by Hispanic students at 30.3% (8,335 students) (https://www.doe.virginia.gov/home). Total enrollment decreased slightly by 0.2% compared to the previous year (https://www.doe.virginia.gov/home). Montessori Public School of Arlington had the largest number of pre-kindergarten students in the county during this period with 103 children enrolled (https://www.doe.virginia.gov/home).
