Mayor Justin Wilson, City Of Alexandria | City Of Alexandria website
Mayor Justin Wilson, City Of Alexandria | City Of Alexandria website
The City of Alexandria is urging its residents to effectively dispose of unwanted prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications during the upcoming National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. The event is scheduled for Saturday, April 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with several drop-off locations across the city where the Alexandria Police Department and Alexandria Sheriff’s Office will facilitate collections.
Collection sites include the Alexandria Police Department Headquarters, Fire Station 210, The Neighborhood Pharmacy of Del Ray, Walgreens Pharmacy, Wegmans, and Woodbine Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center. Residents are advised that needles will not be accepted during the event.
Volunteers at these sites will educate the public on the importance of safe medication disposal and promote the city’s permanent medication drop boxes. Additionally, volunteers will highlight National Fentanyl Awareness Day, which is on April 29, by distributing educational materials and harm reduction bags containing Naloxone.
The City of Alexandria collected 2,294 pounds of unused medication in 2024. The presence of such medications in home cabinets is a risk for misuse, particularly opioid prescriptions. Safe disposal also addresses environmental issues, as improperly discarded drugs can affect local waterways and aquatic life.
Residents who cannot access drug disposal facilities are advised to check medication bottles for specific disposal instructions. If instructions are unavailable, medications should be removed from their original containers without crushing them, mixed with an inedible substance, and sealed in a container before being thrown away. Personal information on prescription labels should be obscured to ensure privacy.
For more information on preventing substance use and misuse, residents can visit alexandriava.gov/SAPCA. To learn about Alexandria’s measures against the opioid crisis, alexandriava.gov/Opioids is available. Those requiring disability accommodations can contact Christina Damhuis via email or phone.
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