Safely get rid of old medications on Saturday April 28

As a result of the DEA’s third National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on Oct. 29, 2011, people turned in more than 377,086 pounds (188.5 tons) of unwanted or expired medications for safe and proper disposal.

On Saturday April 28, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., you can safely get rid of old medications sitting on your shelves, where they possibly pose a danger to young people – both the youngest ones who may mistake colorful pills for candy, and older ones who may begin their experimentation with drugs with your medicine cabinet.

Another good reason to take part in the annual National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day is to keep your medications out of the water supply.

Everything from antibiotics to hormones have turned up in local bodies of water and drinking supplies after being flushed in the toilet.

Throwing prescriptions away with the household garbage also makes them available to anyone picking through your trash.

As a result of the DEA’s third National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on Oct. 29, 2011, people turned in more than 377,086 pounds (188.5 tons) of unwanted or expired medications for safe and proper disposal at the 5,327 take-back sites that were available in all 50 states and U.S. territories.

When the results of the three prior Take-Back Days are combined, the DEA and its state, local, law-enforcement and community partners have removed 995,185 pounds (498.5 tons) of medication from circulation in the past 13 months.

“The amount of prescription drugs turned in by the American public during the past three Take-Back Day events speaks volumes about the need to develop a convenient way to rid homes of unwanted or expired prescription drugs,” said DEA Administrator Michele M. Leonhart.

When you turn in your medications – including over-the-counter remedies – there will be no questions asked by the volunteers at the participating site. You may black out your name and other identifying info on the label with a permanent marker if you are concerned about your privacy.

You do not have to be a resident of the town where the collection is taking place.

Questions? Please call 1-800-882-9539 Monday through Friday during state office hours.

Within the HTNP readership area, the following towns are participating at these locations:

• Windham Community Memorial Hospital, 112 Mansfield Ave., in cooperation with Willimantic Police Department

• Lebanon, CT State Police, at Lebanon Town Hall, 579 Exeter Road

• RHAM High School (in Hebron), with the Hebron Resident State Troopers, in the high school parking lot, 85 Wall St. in Hebron

• Colchester Police-Resident State Trooper’s Office, at Colchester Town Hall, 127 Norwich Ave.

• East Hampton Police Department, at the East Hampton Town Office Building, 20 East High St. (upper parking lot).  For more info, call the police department Mon.-Fri. during regular office hours at (860) 267-9544.

To search for other collection sites, click this link https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/SEARCH-NTBI

Posted April 25, 2012

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