NRP participates in the Prescription Drug Take-Back Day

Annapolis, Maryland (April 29, 2011) – The Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) will be participating in the nationwide Prescription Drug Take Back program by accepting unwanted medicines at selected area offices April 30 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

The program provides a method for homeowners to remove outdated, unneeded or unused controlled substances from their homes. It is administered by the Drug Enforcement Agency and is intended to remove drugs from the home before they can be abused or accidentally ingested. During the collection process no questions will be asked and the substances will be safely stored until they can be destroyed.

Last year, 3,773 pounds of controlled drugs were collected in Maryland and almost 250,000 pounds nation wide. In 2010, Maryland had 59 collections sites and currently there are more than 75 sites that have been established. For more information on a collection site, go to www.dea.gov or call 1-800-882-9539.

The NRP collection sites are:
• NRP Area 2 Office, 3001 Star Road, Queen Anne, MD 21657.
• NRP Area 3 Office, 1070 East College Parkway, Annapolis, MD 21409.
• NRP Area 5 and 6 Office, 3738 Gwynnbrook Avenue, Owings Mills, MD 21117.
• NRP Area 7 Office, 2011 Monument Road, Myersville, MD 21773

The Maryland Natural Resources Police is the enforcement arm of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). With an authorized strength of 247 officers and a dedicated staff of civilian and volunteer personnel, the NRP provide a variety of services in addition to conservation and boating law enforcement duties throughout the State of Maryland. These services include homeland security, search and rescue, emergency medical services, education, information and communications services on a round the clock basis. NRP is the only police force aside from the Maryland State Police that has statewide jurisdiction.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages nearly a half-million acres of public lands and 17,000 miles of waterways, along with Maryland's forests, fisheries and wildlife for maximum environmental, economic and quality of life benefits. A national leader in land conservation, DNR-managed parks and natural, historic and cultural resources attract 11 million visitors annually. DNR is the lead agency in Maryland's effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay, the state's number one environmental priority. Learn more at www.dnr.maryland.gov.