Previous Collection Results

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.

Thanks to our many volunteers, partners, friends, and our amazing community members, we collected 1,234 lbs. of medication (43 white bins), plus 23 red bins of sharps (not included in the weight) in only 4 hours during our semi-annual Drive-Thru Medication & Sharps Collection on National Prescription Take Back Day on April 22, 2023. Enjoy this slideshow which gives a little feel for what the day was like!

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.

ASAC DEA Brian Crowe, Kim Pruim representing County Executive Calvin Ball, HC DrugFree Executive Director Joan Webb Scornaienchi, HC DrugFree Board Officer Dr. Brian Morrison, and Niketa Prince also with the DEA.
Certificate of Recognition for National Youth Substance Use Prevention Month

HC DrugFree’s Team of Volunteers

Medication Combination Lockbox

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.

Commemorative video for HC DrugFree’s Drive-Thru Medication & Sharps Collection in Columbia, MD on April 30, 2022.

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.

Thank You Volunteers!
HC DrugFree’s Executive Director Joan Webb Scornaienchi, DEA ASAC Orville O. Greene, MD’s U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron
Howard County Executive Calvin Ball, HC DrugFree Executive Director Joan Webb Scornaienchi, Board Members Dr. Andrew Angelino and Dr. Brian Morrison, and MD’s Lt. Governor Boyd Rutherford.
Certificate of Recognition for HC DrugFree’s annual Drug and Alchohol Awareness Month
1,157 lbs. of medication (40 white bins) plus 21 red bins of sharps were collected

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.

Commemorative video for HC DrugFree’s Drive-Thru Medication & Sharps Collection in Columbia, MD on October 23, 2021.

Thank You Volunteers!
Howard County Executive Calvin Ball issued a Certificate of Recognition for National Medicine Abuse Month. On behalf of the County Executive, Kim Pruim presented Executive Director Joan Webb Scornaienchi with the Certificate at HC DrugFree’s drive-thru medication and sharps collection on National Drug Take Back Day.
Members of HC DrugFree’s Teen Advisory Council
HC DrugFree’s Leadership Team

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)

County Executive Calvin Ball presented HC DrugFree’s Executive Director Joan Webb Scornaiench with a joint County Executive and County Council proclamation for HC DrugFree’s annual Drug and Alcohol Awareness Month. Volunteer John Scornaienchi in background.
HC DrugFree’s Executive Director Joan Webb Scornaienchi with volunteer and “Friend of HC DrugFree” Glenda Johnson.
Maryland’s Lt. Governor Boyd Rutherford collected medication and sharps with HC DrugFree’s Executive Director Joan Webb Scornaienchi
Pictured: Two members of Wegman’s staff, Dan Morrow and Emily Schillforth. Wegman’s was one of the April 2019 event sponsors.

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).

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.

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.  

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.

HC DrugFree is proud to partner with the Howard County Police Department to provide permanent medication disposal boxes at convenient locations around the County and Take Back Days.

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.

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.

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.

April 27, 2013 – 2nd Drug Take Back

September 29, 2012 – First Take Back Event!