Police collect expired, unneeded prescription drugs

Unneeded and expired medications can be dropped off any time at the Mason Government Center.

Community members turned in 174 pounds of expired or unneeded medications at the Mason District Police Station on National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Oct. 23.

Altogether, 1,406 pounds of prescription and over-the-counter drugs were collected in Fairfax County, the Fairfax County Police Department reports. 

National Take Back Day is a program of the federal Drug Enforcement Administration and local police departments.

The goal is to prevent overdose deaths caused by the misuse of prescription drugs. According to the DEA, drug addicts often raid the medicine cabinets of family and friends. 

You don’t have to wait until the next Take Back Day to get rid of unneeded medications. They can be dropped off any time at the collection box in the Mason Government Center on Columbia Pike in Annandale.