At the last Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, April 27, Alexandria collected 275  lbs  of unused and expired medication! During this event, the Neighborhood Pharmacy of Del Ray hosted Alexandria Sheriff Dana Lawhorne, G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Drug Enforcement Administration Chief of Diversion Control John Martin. 

"We greatly appreciate our dedicated partners who join us in fighting the opioid problem with initiatives like Drug Take Back," said Lawhorne. "Thanks to business partners like the Neighborhood Pharmacy, law enforcement leaders like U.S. Attorney Terwilliger, and our caring community, we can work together to make Alexandria safer." 

This event intends to prevent the misuse and abuse of prescription drugs. Studies show that drug abusers most often take prescription drugs from family and friends, often from the medicine cabinet. The collections provide an alternative to flushing medications down the toilet or throwing them in the trash, which can create safety and health hazards.  Thank you to everyone who volunteered for this event and came out to drop off medication.

Couldn't make it to this event? Alexandria's second and  newest permanent medication drop box is housed at Inova Alexandria Hospital (4320 Seminary Road). This drop box is located in the visitor's lobby next to the cashier's window. Medication can be dropped off here between  5 a.m. and 9 p.m.

Another permanent drop box is located at the Neighborhood Pharmacy of Del Ray (2204 Mt. Vernon Ave). Medication can be dropped off at this location during the following hours:

• Monday - Friday: 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.
• Saturday: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
• Sunday: 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Interested in volunteering at our next Drug Take Back Day? Contact Emma Beall at  emma.beall@alexandriava.gov

This past April, SAPCA celebrated Alcohol Awareness Month with a variety of activities, including:

• Presenting seminars about the facts and consequences of substance use to 83 students at Bishop Ireton High School. Students learned about the effects, dangers and risks associated with alcohol, marijuana, prescription drugs and e-cigarettes.

• Delivering information to 25 girls involved in Space of Her Own. With the help of SAPCA Volunteer Marcia Greco, we reminded participants that drinking alcohol can harm the growing brain, which does not stop developing until age 25.

• Conducting outreach at the Arlandria Eggstravaganza and the first Community Days Cookout to promote the Parents Who Host Lose the Most Campaign. Did you know that adults can be fined $2,500 for each young person they provide an alcoholic beverage?

• Tabling at Minnie Howard and T.C. Williams to remind students that the majority of teens in Alexandria do not drink alcohol - a trend to get behind!

Thank you so much to everyone who engaged our community in prevention this month, especially our wonderful volunteers!

On Tuesday, April 23, SAPCA and the Alexandria Police Department participated in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's annual employee wellness day. During this event, SAPCA Chair Allen Lomax distributed over 100 drug disposal bags and nearly 120 SAPCA giveaway items. He also promoted  Alexandria's quarterly drug take back days and permanent drop boxes and shared information about how Alexandria is addressing the opioid epidemic. Six pounds of unused and expired medication were collected at this event. Thank you so much to everyone who attended this event and stopped by to learn more about our work!

On Friday, April 12, over 30 teens across Alexandria attended a spring-themed Titan Takeover Teen Night at Charles Houston Recreation Center. Students enjoyed  pizza, candy, raffles and giveaways, a DJ, dancing, and a photo booth. Stay tuned for information about our next Titan Takeover!