10.28.2025
UVA Health Community Update | October 2025
10.28.2025
Health and Hope for All: Fall 2025 UVA Health Prescription Drug Take Back Day
From Charlottesville to Northern Virginia — all four UVA Health medical centers took part in National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, Oct. 25. The events provide community members with a free, anonymous, and responsible way to dispose leftover prescription drugs — no questions asked!
The events support our UVA Health strategic plan, One Future Together | Health and Hope for All, goal of cultivating healthy communities through an initiative of community engagement and health outcomes — and the goal of strengthening our foundation through the initiatives of one UVA Health team, patient safety, resource stewardship, and philanthropy.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) reports these 28th National Drug Take Back Day statistics across the country on Oct. 25:
- Law enforcement participation: 4,472
- Collection sites: 4,590
- Weight collected: 620,321 lbs. (310 tons)
In Charlottesville, a dozen UVA Health team members and volunteers staffed a tent for four hours outside the Education Resource Center and at curbside — collecting almost 100 pounds of unused prescription medication from local residents who drove up in their vehicles or walked to the site. That's quite a jump from the 75 pounds collected during the April 2025 Drug Take Back Day event!
They also handed out brochures, magnets, flyers, etc. with more information.
"The 96.5 lbs of medications we've collected will be kept off the streets and out of the water supply — and unable to be given, sold, shared, or stolen,” says Dania Chastain, PhD, Associate Professor, Clinical Anesthesiology, UVA School of Medicine, and Founder and Director, Office of Pain Management and Opioid Stewardship (OPMOS) (pictured above, bottom row, second from left). “It's a wonderful day meeting and educating our community, and enjoying time with colleagues!”
“Following the success of our annual spring take back days, we're excited to add a fall date for the first time!” explains Wendy Carlton, Program Director, Executive Editor and Program Director, OPMOS (pictured above, bottom row, left). “Increasing the amount of unused, expired, and leftover medications collected by nearly 50% demonstrates a real need in our community. We hear from several people: ‘We come every year!’ Our goal is to make Drug Take Back Day a recurring event on everyone’s calendar. See you in April!”
Robert Goldstein, MD, former Medical Director, Pain Management Center, and former Division Chief of Pain Medicine (pictured above, top row, left), retired earlier this year, but remains active in other roles. It's Dr. Goldstein's 2023 winning submission to the UVA Health SPARK Innovation Competition that expanded drug take back efforts. "While UVA Health has taken a leading role, many area pharmacies also have installed medication deposit boxes, making it easier for year-round safe disposal of unused and expired medications,” shares Dr. Goldstein.
"It should be easy to safely get rid of unwanted medications, but the fact is, it’s difficult,” explains Justin Vesser, PharmD, MS, Ambulatory Pharmacy Director, UVA Health (pictured above, right). “To offer a day for people to come to us and not even have to get out of their car is a treat. We’re happy to do it!"
Also on the UVA Health Pharmacy team — resident Justin Chan, PharmD (pictured above, left): “It’s an easy decision to volunteer for this event,” he says. “I feel good knowing I’m keeping my home and community safe by making sure old, unused medication doesn't end up in the wrong hands or harm the environment.”
The "Justins" are joined by resident Chimwe Ogbu-Mbadiugha, PharmD (pictured above, center).
"I’m honored to help lead and to volunteer in my first Drug Take Back Day,” says Khaing Nwe Phoo, MHA, Assistant Administrator, Anesthesiology Department (pictured above, third from left). “Seeing our teams, partners, and community members come together with such enthusiasm to promote safety and environmental stewardship truly is inspiring!”
UVA Health Pharmacy, UVA Health Department of Anesthesiology Pain Management Center, OPMOS, and UVA Police Department sponsored the Charlottesville event.
Maeve O’Neill, UVA Police Department (pictured above), is the lieutenant assigned to support safety and security initiatives for UVA Health University Medical Center. She’s worked for UVA Police for four years, and keeps a watchful eye on these events: "Drug Take back Day is an important program, giving the community a safe and reliable option to dispose of medications which could otherwise potentially be harmful to the environment and a danger to those who may take them because of their availability in the home,” explains Lt. O'Neill, who then drove the final collection an hour and a half to the DEA collection site in Appamatox.
Patrick H. Finan, PhD, Harold Carron Professor, Department of Anesthesiology, UVA School of Medicine, and his daughter (pictured together above) also volunteered at Drug Take Back Day. "Thanks to all those who organize and make this a productive event."
Says 12-year-old Acadia Finan: “I appreciate how it lets me get involved in the community, how I get to socialize with people, and learn volunteering skills to use in the future."
Dad agrees: “Acadia appreciates the warm welcome and is excited to participate again in the future!”
Volunteers also include: Alexa Gromada, Clinical Research Coordinator, UVA School of Medicine; resident Christian Renwick, MD, Anesthesiology; and Joshua Roach, MD, Assistant Profeesor of Anesthesiology.
UVA Health also collects unused prescription medications year-round at eight locations — no questions asked:
One UVA Health
All three UVA Health community medical centers in Northern Virginia also took part in National Drug Take Back Day.
At Culpeper Medical Center, UVA Health team members and volunteers collected 33.5 pounds. Reports Jeffrey Say, Manager, Community Engagement, UVA Health Culpeper Medical Center — that includes a bottle dating back 45 years — to 1980!
Team members and volunteers at Haymarket Medical Center collected 90 pounds. At Prince William Medical Center, the tally came in at 42 pounds.
“By participating in this event, I want to be able to give back to the community through my time and knowledge,” says volunteer Sahni Parminder, Occupational Therapist, Inpatient Rehab. “This event has a significant, positive impact by preventing prescription drug misuse, reducing accidental poisoning, protecting the environment from chemical contamination, and raising public awareness.”
Sums up Rozlyn Giddens, Manager, Community Engagement, UVA Health Haymarket Medical Center and Prince William Medical Center (pictured above, top left): “Making it easy, convenient, and safe for our friends, neighbors, and community to dispose of old and medicines isn’t just helpful — it makes a difference! That’s why partnering with our local police department, DEA, local community services, and UVA Health is such a natural and beneficial collaboration!”
The following are year-round drop off locations in Manassas, Manassas Park, and Prince William County, Virginia:
- Manassas City Police Department: 9518 Fairview Ave., Manassas, Virginia 20110
- Manassas Park Police Department: Secure, 24/7 drop box in lobby, 329 Manassas Dr., Manassas Park, Virginia 20111
- Prince William County Police:
- Central District Police Station, 5036 Davis Ford Rd., Woodbridge, Virginia 22192
- Eastern District Police Station, 15948 Donald Curtis Dr., Woodbridge, Virginia 22191
- Western District Police Station, 8900 Freedom Center Blvd., Manassas, Virginia 20110
Please note, at all year-round locations — llegal drugs, and medical waste such as syringes and needles, are not accepted.
