Last Saturday scores of Bowie residents collaboratively turned about six boxes full of drugs in to city police, but none were arrested. The score wasn't part of a drug bust, but a DEA sponsored drug turn in.

The Bowie Police Department was one of 3,400 participants in the Drug Enforcement Agency sponsored National Take Back Day on Saturday. The event invited residents to turn in leftover or unused prescription medicines so that they can be disposed of properly and safely. With drop off available at both the Bowie Senior Center and Bowie City Hall, residents were greeted by police officers and DEA agents to turn in prescriptions of all types. With six boxes coming in total, four of them were collected in front of the Bowie Senior Center as part of the weekend's health fair.

The program is part of a campaign started by the DEA in August to promote the safe disposal of medicines, and to prevent them from falling into the hands of those who might abuse them. In addition to the risks of abuse or theft, the effort targets improper disposal of prescriptions by flushing them, which raises concerns of contaminating the water supply. Drugs turned in through the program are shipped to a facility that incinerates them. 

Sgt. Patrick Musselman, a supervisor with the Prince George's County DEA Task Force was pleased with the turnout at the Bowie City Hall site, indicating that two bins had been filled up by noon. "People are really receptive to this idea, we should do this more often," he said. 

At the Bowie Senior Center, Officer William Jackson with the Bowie City Police highlighted a citizen who had dropped off a box of medicines accumulated over the last 10 years. When Charlene Burton's father died two years ago after an extended illness, she didn't want to flush his large supply of medicines down the toilet, citing concern for the environment, so when she saw the Drug Take Back program advertised, she was happy to have a safe way to dispose of the medicines. 

Richard Dodson was turning his leftover medicines in at the Bowie Senior Center. A Bowie resident for more than 30 years, he has been pressing for a better way to dispose of prescription medicines with the city, county, and state for many years. "I'm very pleased with this program today, and believe it should be held often, or even have a permanent location for drop off available."

Diversion Investigator Laverne Maye with the DEA was enthusiastic about the program as well, and indicated that they had received a great response from the community. The DEA, in addition to advocating for safe disposal, cites the dangers of leaving unused prescription medicines in the home, indicating that the main source for teenagers to acquire and abuse prescription drugs is from the medicine cabinets of family and friends. Maye warned about the trend of 'self-prescribing" by obtaining prescription pain pills for an ache from a friend. Not only is it illegal, but taking such medicines without the supervision of a doctor can lead to overdose and addiction in the same manner as street drugs.

While future take back days are anticipated, if you cannot get to a drop off site and need to dispose of medicines, the DEA recommends removing pills from their containers and mixing them with something unappealing such as used kitty litter or coffee grounds, and then throwing them out.  This may not address the environmental concerns, but it is an effective tool against the concern of abuse.

For more information about the DEA's campaign, visit www.dea.gov.