The Germantown Police Department is partnering with the Drug Enforcement Administration to collect unwanted prescription drugs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on April 30. Not all prescription drugs are eligible. The DEA cannot accept aerosol inhalers, liquids, needles or sharps. Only pills or patches will be accepted. GPD is encouraging residents to bring unwanted medications to be disposed of at the Kroger located at 7735 Farmington Boulevard. This service is free and anonymous, no questions asked. 

In the fall, GPD collected a total of 424 pounds of prescription medications. This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. 

According to the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 9.7 million people misused prescription pain relievers, 4.9 million people misused prescription stimulants and 5.9 million people misused prescription tranquilizers or sedatives. The survey also showed that a majority of misused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet.