Thank you for attending our medication and sharps collection on Saturday, April 27, 2024. Our volunteers collected 1,387.5 lbs. of medication (51 bins) in 4 hours. In addition, we collected 28 bins of sharps not included in the weight. Enjoy our event slideshow!
Photo above from April 27, 2024
Thank you for attending our medication and sharps collection on Saturday, October 28, 2023. Our volunteers collected 1,223.5 lbs. of medication (43 bins) in 4 hours. In addition, we collected 24 bins of sharps not included in the weight. Enjoy our event slideshow!
Thank you to the Howard County Police and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for guarding and transporting all medications to keep our community safe. Thank you to all our volunteers, partners, and funders.
Thank you for attending our medication and sharps collection on Saturday, April 22, 2023. Our volunteers collected 1,234 lbs. of medication (43 bins) in 4 hours. In addition, we collected 23 bins of sharps.
Thank you to the Howard County Police and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for guarding and transporting all medications to keep our community safe. Thank you to all our volunteers, partners, and funders.
Thank you for attending our medication and sharps collection on Saturday, October 29, 2022. Our volunteers collected 1,294 lbs. of medication (45 bins) in 4 hours. In addition, we collected 23 bins of sharps.
Thank you to the Howard County Police and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for guarding and transporting all medications to keep our community safe. Thank you to all our volunteers, partners, and funders.
43 white bins 
23 red bins of sharps
We gave away 100 medication lockboxes (a $42 Value) and will do our best to giveaway more at the next event in April 2023.
On Saturday, April 30, 2022, volunteers at HC DrugFree’s site collected 1,157 lbs. of medication (40 bins) in 4 hours. In addition, we collected 21 bins of sharps.
We hope you enjoyed our 2-for-1 event:
#1: Drive-thru medication and sharps collection
#2: Tour trailer to see where drugs can be hidden in plain sight
Parents, grandparents, educators, or any adults were invited to join us to tour a 30 foot trailer set up to simulate a young person’s bedroom and bathroom and learn some of the places drugs can be hidden in plain sight as well as other potential signs of drug use. Free.
On Saturday, October 23, 2021, volunteers at HC DrugFree’s site collected 1,106 lbs. of medication (34 bins) in 4 hours at our drive-thru site. In addition, we collected 19 bins of sharps.
On Saturday April 24, 2021, HC DrugFree set a new record with 1,494.5 lbs. of medication and 36 bins of sharps in 4 hours at our drive-thru site.
By signing up for HC DrugFree’s free electronic newsletter, you won’t miss the next collection date or other useful collection updates. Click here to sign up for our newsletter.
On October 24, 2020, 1,211.5 lbs. or 43 bins of medication collected at HC DrugFree’s drive-thru site.
The April 25, 2020 medication and sharps Take Back event was cancelled due to COVID-19.
On October 26, 2019 we set a new record for medications collected at HC DrugFree’s site in 4 hours: 1,262 lbs. Record number of sharps collected too!
Saturday, April 27, 2019: 993 lbs of medication (35 bins) were collected in 4 hours plus 20 bins of sharps (needs, syringes and EpiPens)
Including HC DrugFree’s location, the total pounds of medication collected in Howard County on April 27, 2019 = 1,145.1 pounds
October 27, 2018: 776.3 lbs of Medication Collected at HC DrugFree’s Convenient Drive-Thru Site. Plus,18 Bins of “Sharps” (Needles, Syringes and EpiPens).
County Council member Dr. Calvin Ball 
MD Lt. Governor Boyd Rutherford 
776.3 lbs of medication 
18 bins of sharps 
Corporate sponsor Wegman’s (Dan and Steve) 
Teen Advisory Council member 
Lt. Governor Boyd Rutherford and HC DrugFree’s Executive Director Joan Webb Scornaienchi are joined by corporate sponsors IMPAQ International and Dr. Brian Morrison with Morrison Chiropractic along with Teen Advisory Council members and former Board of Education member Ellen Flynn-Giles 
Adult volunteers
April 28, 2018: 952.5 lbs of Medication Collected at HC DrugFree’s Site. Plus, 18 Bins of Sharps.
Including HC DrugFree’s location, total pounds of medication collected in Howard County on April 28, 2018 = 1,098.
Dr. Calvin Ball (2nd from left) presenting County Council Resolution 
Lt. Governor Boyd Rutherford presenting Governor’s Citation 
Removing medication to keep families safe! 
Former County Executive Allan Kittleman 
952.5 lbs of medication in white bins and 18 red bins with sharps. Two HC DrugFree Board Members Dr. Andy Angelino, Howard County General Hospital and Magistrate Stephanie Porter count bins with HC DrugFree’s Executive Director Joan Webb Scornaienchi and Wilde Lake Village Board Chair Kevin McAliley. 
Lt. Governor Boyd Rutherford hard at work emptying medication and sharps from vehicles. 
HC DrugFree’s Joan Webb Scornaienchi, Howard County Public School System’s James LeMon and Wilde Lake Village Board Chair Kevin McAliley.
October 28, 2017: 1,212 lbs of Medications Collected at HC DrugFree’s Location. Plus 17 Bins of Sharps.
Another semi-annual national Drug Take Back Day was Saturday, October 28, 2017 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. and HC DrugFree’s convenient drive-thru collection site gathered 1,212 pounds of expired and unwanted prescription and over-the-counter medications and 17 large bins of “sharps” (needles, syringes, and EpiPens). Across Howard County, a total of 1,313 pounds of prescription and over-the-counter medications were collected on Take Back Day.
Thank you to all who volunteered on a beautiful sunny fall day. A special thank you to Lt. Governor Boyd Rutherford and his staff; the Howard County Police Department for guarding and transporting the medications; the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent for working along with us all day; Howard County General Hospital staff for sorting/transporting sharps; school staff; HC DrugFree’s Teen Advisory Council members and other teen volunteers for holding signs and directing traffic; adult volunteers for gathering meds and sharps and distributing materials; our friends from Soroptimist International Mid-Atlantic online club; members of Columbia Rotary; all the middle and high school PTAs/PTSAs with their signs and school colors; Wilde Lake High School cheerleaders; and many more. A special thank you to everyone who brought medications or sharps for proper disposal.
April 29, 2017: 1,126.6 lbs. of Medications Collected at HC DrugFree’s Location. Plus 13 Bins of Sharps.
Another semi-annual national Drug Take Back Day was Saturday, April 29, 2017 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. and HC DrugFree’s convenient drive-thru collection site gathered 1,126.6 pounds of expired and unwanted prescription and over-the-counter medications and 13 large bins of “sharps” (needles, syringes, and EpiPens). Across Howard County, a total of 1,246.6 pounds of prescription and over-the-counter medications were collected on Take Back Day.
Thank you to all who worked in the 90+ degree heat: the Howard County Police Department for guarding and transporting the medications, Dr. Andy Angelino for sorting and transporting the sharps to the Howard County General Hospital, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent for working along with us all day, HC DrugFree’s incredible Teen Advisory Council and other teen volunteers for holding signs, our friends from Soroptimist International Mid-Atlantic online club, and all our adult volunteers. A special thank you to everyone who brought medications or sharps for proper disposal.
It takes a village and this village cares about our children, families, clean water, and the landfill.
HC DrugFree’s Board Emeritus, Judge William V. Tucker; HC DrugFree’s Executive Director, Joan Webb Scornaienchi; HC DrugFree’s Board Member and Director of Psychiatry at Howard County General Hospital Dr. Andy Angelino. 
Video: April 2017
October 22, 2016: Drug Take Back Day Results – 718 pounds at HC DrugFree’s collection site
National medication Take Back Day date was Saturday, October 22, 2016 and HC DrugFree’s convenient drive-thru collection site gathered 718 pounds of expired and unwanted prescription and over-the-counter medications and several large bins of “sharps” (needles, syringes, and EpiPens) in 4 hours. Thank you to the Howard County Police Department for guarding and transporting the medications and to the Howard County General Hospital for sorting and transporting the sharps.
Teen Advisory Council Creates Video for the 2016 Event
Thank you to Atholton High School senior, Harsh Patel, for taking the lead on producing a video advertising Take Back Day to play on local cable tv.
Howard County’s 4 Permanent Medication Disposal Boxes are located at: theNorthern District Station, 3410 Courthouse Drive, Ellicott City, 21043; the Southern District Station, 11226 Scaggsville Road, Laurel, 20723; and at the Gary Arthur Community Center, 2400 Route 97, Cooksville, 21723 and 10741 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia, 21044.
Click on video below to hear what Congressman Elijah Cummings and HC DrugFree’s Executive Director Joan Webb Scornaienchi say about HC DrugFree’s efforts to collect medications and much more.
Keep your family safe by removing expired or unwanted medications from your home and tell your friends remove or secure their medications too.
October 22, 2016 Drug Take Back Day Results – 718 pounds at HC DrugFree’s collection site
HC DrugFree’s office collected 718 pounds of expired or unwanted medications and several large boxes of needles, syringes and EpiPens for proper disposal.
April 30, 2016 Drug Take Back Day Results – 721 pounds at HC DrugFree’s collection site
HC DrugFree’s office collected 721 pounds of expired or unwanted medications and several large boxes of needles, syringes and EpiPens for proper disposal.
September 26, 2015 Drug Take Back Day Results
HC DrugFree’s office collected 455 pounds of expired or unwanted medications and 3 large boxes of needles, syringes and EpiPens for proper disposal. The other 3 Howard County Police permanent collection locations collected 61 pounds of medications.
Board of Education member Ellen Flynn Giles and Joan 
Needles, syringes and EpiPens collected
April 11, 2015 Drug Take Back Day Results
Today, 838 pounds of unwanted and expired prescription and over-the-counter medications were collected during Drug Take Back Day at the 9 collection sites throughout the County including HC DrugFree’s office in the Wilde Lake Village Center. HC DrugFree also collected 6 large bags of needles, syringes and EpiPens. The Howard County Police Department and HC DrugFree are partnering to provide permanent medication disposal boxes. The first 3 boxes available for year-round use are at the Northern District Station (3410 Courthouse Drive, Ellicott City), Southern District Station (11226 Scaggsville Road, Laurel) and the Gary Arthur Community Center (2400 Route 97, Cooksville). Click here to read the press release.
Howard County Police Sgt. Tom Claxton, HC DrugFree’s Executive Director Joan Webb Scornaienchi, and Attorney Timothy Mitchell 
September 27, 2014 National Drug Take Back Day Results
The Howard County Police Department staffed 9 collection sites around the County and collected a total of 821 pounds of unwanted or expired prescription and over-the-counter medications. Pictured here are the volunteers at HC DrugFree’s Office at the Wilde Lake Village Center collection center and the 5 bags of prescription and over-the-counter medications, as well as the boxes of needles, syringes and EpiPens collected in just 4 hours. HC DrugFree thanks HCPD for all they do throughout the year to keep the community safe!
April 26, 2014 Drug Take Back Day – 1,030 Pounds of Prescriptions, Needles, and EpiPens Collected
1,030 pounds were collected at the 10 Howard County drop off sites.
October 26, 2013 Drug Take Back Day a Success! 862 Pounds Collected in Howard County – The Most Ever!
Pictured below is HC DrugFree Executive Director Joan Webb Scornaienchi, Board of Education members Ellen Flynn Giles and Brian Meshkin, also of Proove Biosciences, Inc., and the Howard County Police Officer stationed at the site. They are pictured holding the 4 bags of prescription and over the counter medications that were collected at the HC DrugFree site. The next Drug Take Back Day will be in the Spring of 2014. Check back for more details. Pictured below are a parent volunteer, Ellen Flynn Giles, Joan Webb Scornaienchi and Brian Meshkin with members of HC DrugFree’s Teen Advisory Council and youth volunteers wearing shirts provided by HC DrugFree corporate sponsor.
According to The Partnership at Drugfree.org, two-thirds of teens who abuse prescription drugs are getting them from home, friends, or family. The three steps to keeping a safe home are monitor, secure and dispose. Monitor what medications you have in the home, how much you have, if there is any missing. Secure what you need to have in the home, medicine lock boxes or bags can cost as little as $20. Dispose of old, expired, and unused medication safely on the National Take Back Days held in the spring and fall.
