Talbot Goes Purple announces mobile medication pick up for National drug take-back day

Health Talbot

Anyone needing pills picked up should complete online form

EASTON – Any housebound Talbot County resident with unused medications can have at-home pick up for National Drug Take Back Day on October 26, 2024 from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m.

Talbot Goes Purple this week announced its first mobile prescription medication collection from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Oct. 26 as part of National Drug Take-Back Day. Anyone unable to bring unused medications to a local drop box who needs pick up, can fill out an online form or call the Talbot County Sheriff’s Office at 410-822-1020 (weekdays, 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.). The online form is available at www.talbotgoespurple.org. A Talbot County Sheriff’s deputy will come to each house and collect any unused pills.

National Drug Take-Back Day is an annual collection event sponsored by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The DEA also sponsors a collection event each April; that event saw 335 tons of medications collected across more than 4,800 sites.

Unused or expired prescription medications pose a serious public safety issue – proper disposal helps prevent misuse and abuse and helps save lives.

“We recognize that there are people in our county who may not be able to get to one of our medication disposal sites,” said Talbot County Sheriff Joe Gamble. “It is very important that we properly dispose of our unused prescriptions. We hope anyone who is housebound will contact us so we can collect those unused pills.”

Collection includes unwanted medications, vitamins and supplements — vape pens, inhalers, sharps and needles are NOT accepted. This program is anonymous – no questions asked, no identification required. Participants also can receive a free, at-home medication disposal bag and a free dose of Naloxone, the opioid overdose reversal spray. This year’s event is supported by the Talbot County Health Department.

In addition to this year’s take-back day initiative, a permanent, year-round, 24-hour a day, 7-days a week disposal box is located at the Talbot County Sheriff’s Office at 28712 Glebe Road, at the south end of the Talbot County Business Center. The Sheriff’s Office moves to 28640 Mary’s Court, Suite 100 on Oct. 7, and the drop box will be outside to the right of the front door.

Other disposal locations in the county include the Maryland State Police Barrack at 7503 Ocean Gateway in Easton (24-hour); St. Michaels Police Department at 100 Freemont St. in St. Michaels (24-hour); and Oxford Police Department at 101 Market St. (weekdays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. excluding holidays).

For more information on National Take-Back Day visit www.takebackday.dea.gov.

An initiative from the Talbot County Sheriff’s Office and Tidewater Rotary, in partnership with Talbot County Public Schools, Saints Peter & Paul School and the Mid-Shore Community Foundation, Talbot Goes Purple empowers our youth and our community to ‘Go Purple’ as a sign of taking a stand against substance abuse.

More information about Talbot Goes Purple is available at www.talbotgoespurple.org. Find TGP on Facebook @TalbotGoesPurple or contact: talbotgoespurple@gmail.com.

Talbot Goes Purple is a component fund of the Mid-Shore Community Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization – donations to which are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.

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