2,178 Pounds of Medication
Collected in the April 2022 Take Back Day event
Patients and Community Members Joined Johns Hopkins in the Fight Against Drug Misuse!
On Saturday, April 30, 2022, Johns Hopkins Medicine participated in the Drug Enforcement Administration's National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. Sites participating in the event included:
Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center
The Johns Hopkins Hospital
Howard County General Hospital
Suburban Hospital
Sibley Memorial Hospital
Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital
Johns Hopkins Health Care & Surgery Center — Green Spring Station
This most recent event saw record breaking results. Over 530 community members brought 2,178 pounds of their unused or expired medication to this event where the Johns Hopkins Medicine pharmacy team disposed of them safely. In an interview with WBAL, Brandon Kasberg, pharmacist for Johns Hopkins Medicine commented, "A lot of times patients end up throwing them in the garbage or flushing them down the toilet and that's not the safest way of disposal."
These results represent the greatest amount of medications collected since the event began in April, 2019. Safe disposal of these medications makes a significant impact across our communities.
Our next event is scheduled to take place in October, 2022.
Event Quick Facts
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532 Community Members
Brought their unused or expired medication in the April 2022 event
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7,803 Total Pounds
Total medication collected and disposed of through Johns Hopkins Take Back Day events and pharmacy take-back bins
Another Way to Dispose of Medication
You don’t have to wait for a Drug Take-Back event to dispose of unwanted medication. Johns Hopkins Pharmacies offer patients and the community a safe and convenient way to dispose of unused and expired medications throughout the year.
Use the secure drug disposal bins located in several Johns Hopkins pharmacies to dispose of your medications safely. Disposal bins are located in the following pharmacies:
- Arcade Pharmacy
- Bayview Outpatient Pharmacy
- John G. Bartlett Pharmacy
- Johns Hopkins Outpatient Center Pharmacy
- Monument Street Pharmacy
- Weinberg Pharmacy
These bins are available during the pharmacy’s operational hours. Here is a complete list of acceptable items for disposal in the bins:
- Pills, tablets, capsules - Loose pills must be placed in a zip-top bag before placing in the bin. Bags can be obtained from the pharmacy.
- Ointments
- Creams
- Lotions
- Powders
- Liquid medicines – no more than 4 oz. (120ml) - Liquid medications must be in their original containers, wrapped in a paper towel and sealed in a plastic bag before placing in the container.
Contact your local community’s household hazardous waste department for information on proper disposal of medications not on the list.
Misuse Statistics
1.2 Million Americans
The number of Americans 12 or older that began misusing prescription pain relievers between 2020 and 2021.
100,000 Overdose deaths
The estimate of drug overdose deaths in the United States between 2020 and 2021.
28.5% Increase
The increase in drug overdose deaths from 2020 to 2021 (compared to the year before).
Past Drug Take-Back Events
Browse past event photos that show the impact of Drug Takeback Day on the community.
