On Saturday, October 25, 2025, HC DrugFree’s Medication Collection site gathered 1,125 lbs of unwanted and expired medications for proper disposal, contributing to an impressive national total of 571,054 lbs (286 tons) on the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA’s) National Drug Take Back Day. HC DrugFree also distributed 107 medication lock boxes to help families store medications securely and prevent misuse. Thank you to everyone who…
The Drug Enforcement Administration, in collaboration with nearly 4,000 law enforcement partners across the country, will host the 29 th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day this Saturday, October 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. At nearly 4,000 collection sites throughout the United States, DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day encourages Americans to safely and…
Don’t know what to do with your expired or leftover meds? Please join HC DrugFree in the Wilde Lake Village Center parking lot for our convenient twice-a-year drive-thru medication disposal event as a part of the DEA’s National Drug Take Back Day! All collected medications are guarded and transported by the Howard County Police and…
A new substance trend is raising red flags: “Feel Free,” a beverage containing kratom, a plant with opioid-like effects, is being sold in small blue bottles at gas stations, vape shops, and online. Marketed as an alcohol alternative or “wellness tonic,” this product can pose serious risks to health and safety. What’s Going On What…
The DEA’s newly released 2025 National Drug Threat Assessment reveals a deeply concerning trend: veterinary medications are increasingly being misused in the illicit drug supply. The animal tranquilizer xylazine—often called “tranq”—continues to be the most common additive found in fentanyl powder. Even more alarming, a newer veterinary sedative, medetomidine, is now appearing in street fentanyl…
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is calling on manufacturers of nicotine pouches to adopt child-resistant packaging, following a concerning rise in accidental poisonings among young children. What the FDA Found What FDA Is Recommending Why This Matters Many nicotine pouch products have bright colors, fruity flavors, or packaging that could appeal to children, making…
Register to attend our Fall 2025 Guiding Good Choices® classes for parents, guardians and grandparents. Series will run (Tuesdays and Thursdays): November 11, 13, 18, 20 and December 2 from noon to 1:30 p.m. on Zoom. Raising preteens and teens is tough. Wouldn’t it be great if adults could take a class that taught us…
HC DrugFree teen volunteers attended Howard County’s 9th annual International Overdose Awareness Day on Sunday, August 31 at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Ellicott City. The event featured several community resources, a live demonstration of life-saving efforts including the use of Naloxone/Narcan, and a candlelight vigil. Between August 2024 to July 2025, there have been…
A new and extremely dangerous class of synthetic opioids, nicknamed “Frankenstein Opioids,” has been seized in all 50 states, alarming health experts and law enforcement across the country. What Are Frankenstein Opioids? Frankenstein opioids, also known as nitazenes, were first developed in the 1950s as potential pain relievers but were never approved for medical use.…
The Maryland Department of Health has released the Drug Overdose Surveillance and Epidemiology (DOSE) Annual Report for 2023, analyzing suspected non-fatal overdose trends across the state. Using emergency medical services (EMS) and emergency department (ED) data, the report provides an important look at overdose patterns. While non-fatal suspected overdose rates statewide decreased by 15% in…
