Crime & Safety

Police Will Take Your Unwanted Drugs This Saturday

Howard County Police will open ten locations Saturday to take back unwanted prescription medication.


Howard County Police will host a drug take back event on Saturday to allow residents to anonymously drop off any unwanted, unused or expired medication at several police and community offices throughout the county.

The 10 drop-off locations will be open on Oct. 26 from 10 a.m to 2 p.m. The police are holding the event as part of the Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) National Take Back Initiative.

The initiative is held annually to prevent accidental drug poisonings as well as drug misuse in homes. Police will later dispose of the drugs in an environmentally safe way. The DEA reports that drugs that are flushed or thrown away can get into waterways and possibly affect our drinking water.

"Just as we don't put motor oil or leftover paint thinner in the trash, we should not put toxic leftover medicines in the garbage," wrote the DEA on its website.

Police will accept prescription and over-the-counter medication, but not IV solutions, injectable medicines or syringes.

The following police and community locations will host drop-offs on Oct. 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.:

  • Northern District Police Station, 3410 Court House Drive, Ellicott City
  • Southern District Police Station, 11226 Scaggsville Road, Laurel
  • Wilde Lake Village HC DrugFree, 10451 Twin Rivers Road, Suite 404, Columbia
  • Harper’s Choice Community Policing Office, 5485 Harpers Farm Road, Columbia
  • Oakland Mills Police Satellite Office, 5820 Robert Oliver Place, Columbia
  • Long Reach Police Satellite Office, 8775 Cloudleap Court, Columbia
  • Owen Brown Police Satellite Office, 7154 Cradlerock Way, Columbia
  • North Laurel Police Satellite Office, 9411 Whiskey Bottom Road, Laurel
  • Gary J. Arthur Community Center, 2400 Rt. 97, Cooksville
  • Maryland State Police Waterloo Barrack, 7777 Washington Boulevard, Jessup


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