Residents can safely get rid of expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs at a variety of locations throughout the Upper Valley on Saturday, from 10 a.m. till 2 p.m., as part of Drug Take-Back Day, a nationwide effort to curb the amount of potentially dangerous prescription drugs in homes.
The city of Lebanon and a number of towns in Windsor County have announced their participation in the effort, a collaboration between the Drug Enforcement Administration and state and local law enforcement agencies.
“Rates of prescription drug abuse in this country are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs,” Windsor County Sheriff Mike Chamberlain said in a news release. “We look forward to participating in Take-Back Day again this fall as part of our continuing effort to protect the health and safety of Windsor County residents.”
In April, a similar take-back day in Windsor County resulted in 567 pounds of medication being collected and sent for destruction — an increase of 90 pounds from the previous collection.
Courtney Hillhouse of Windsor County Prevention Partners said that the day is important for community health.
“Nearly 70 percent of people age 12 and older who abused prescription painkillers got them from friends or relatives, many times right from the medicine cabinet,” Hillhouse said in the release. “To prevent misuse, we want everyone to know how to safely use, store and dispose of unused or expired medicine.”
Prescription drugs can be dropped off anonymously for disposal at the following locations on Saturday from 10 a.m. till 2 p.m.: the Hartford, Norwich, Springfield, Windsor and Woodstock police departments; the Royalton State Police Barracks; and the Weathersfield Transfer Station (operated by the Weathersfield Police Department).
A drug collection box and a sharps container for the disposal of unwanted needles and syringes are available 24 hours a day in the lobby of the Lebanon Police Department.
“These are available for the public for your convenience and anonymity; you are not required to speak with an officer,” Lebanon police said in a news release.
Permanent drop boxes for the disposal of prescription drugs are also located at the Hartford, Royalton, Springfield, Windsor and Woodstock police departments.
For more information on safely storing and disposing of prescription medication, visit www.twinstatesafemeds.org.