The numbers are in: the Virginia Beach Police Department collected more than 2,500 pounds of unused and unwanted medication in 2016.
The collection came by way of the department’s “Prescription Medication Take Back Program,” a year-long effort to provide Virginia Beach residents with a safe way to dispose of their unwanted medication, vitamins and syringes.
Since its inception in June 2015, the program has facilitated the safe disposal of 3,761 pounds of drugs.
“We are very pleasantly surprised that people are utilizing this. It shows you how much of it is out there,” said Virginia Beach Police Department Master Police Officer Tonya Pierce.
The Virginia Beach Police Department has been collecting unused and unwanted medication for years. Originally the collection happened biannually, but in 2015 the department decided to turn it into a year-long program.
Seven days a week, Virginia Beach residents can visit any of the four police department precincts to drop off prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, vitamins and veterinary medication. The department has also recently added a secure “sharps” box to collect needles, syringes, IV bags and EpiPens.
“The whole goal is to not have prescriptions laying around that someone can get their hands on, or is accidentally dumped into our water way,” Pierce said, adding that loose prescriptions can be dangerous when they fall into the wrong hands.
Mayfield can be reached at adrienne.m@wydaily.com.
