RVA community invited to Drug Take Back Day event on Saturday, Oct. 25
Led by VCU School of Pharmacy students and VCU Police, the program highlights proper disposal of medications as well as drug education and safety.
October 16, 2025
VCU School of Pharmacy and VCU Police partnered together for a Drug Take Back Day last April. (Jake Burns, Enterprise Marketing and Communications)
By Mary Kate Brogan and Jake Burns
Virginia Commonwealth University School of Pharmacy students and VCU Police invite members of the public to bring unused and unwanted medications to a Drug Take Back Day event next weekend.
The Drug Take Back Day: Pharmer’s Market, named for the variety of activities available to attendees, will take place Saturday, Oct. 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Abner Clay Park (200 W. Clay St., Richmond, 23220). The event aligns with the DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.
The local Drug Take Back Day will feature:
- Safe disposal medications and community education on prescription medication safety.
- A blood donation drive.
- A swabbing event, in collaboration with Earl Young’s Team, for blood cancer donor matches.
- A matcha cart pop-up with The Exit Plan.
- Demonstrations of how to use naloxone with Rams in Recovery’s Free Naloxone Bike.
- Addiction awareness and education with Master Center for Addiction Medicine.
- Flu vaccinations from Qwark Health (other vaccines, including pneumonia, shingles and COVID-19, can be arranged ahead of time by calling Qwark at 844-931-2345).
The local Drug Take Back Day is a collaboration between students in VCU’s B.S. in pharmaceutical sciences program, Pharm.D. students in VCU’s American Pharmacists Association-Academy of Student Pharmacists (APhA-ASP) student organization and VCU Police.
Students will be present to educate the community on the importance of properly disposing of medications, including how to do so at home. They also will share information about substance use disorders and will lead demonstrations on the use of naloxone, an emergency medication used for reversing an opioid overdose.
In addition to medications, attendees are encouraged to bring any vapes or cigarettes they may wish to dispose of.
VCU Health has year-round drop-off locations
Do you have expired or unused medication at home? Self-serve take-back boxes are available at participating VCU Health pharmacies (see below) to help properly dispose of expired or unused medication.
These boxes are available year-round and include detailed instructions for properly disposing of medication. Once the medication has been placed in a take-back box, it will be secured and accessible only to pharmacy staff.
The following VCU Health pharmacies have self-serve take-back boxes:
- VCU Medical Center Gateway Building, first-floor lobby (1200 E. Marshall St., Richmond, 23219)
- Ambulatory Care Center Pharmacy, first floor (417 N. 11th St., Richmond, 23298), 804-828-8329. (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday, Sunday and holidays, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.)
- Children’s Hospital of Richmond, ground floor (1000 E. Broad St., Richmond, 23219), 804-828-6293. (Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
- Short Pump Pavilion, second floor (11958 W. Broad St., Henrico, 23233), 804-828-9977. (Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.)
- South Richmond Pharmacy at Hayes E. Willis Health Center (4730 Southside Plaza, Richmond, 23224), 804-828-8641. (Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
- Stony Point Pharmacy (9000 Stony Point Parkway, Richmond, 23235), 804-828-8659. (Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
