Residents Can Turn in Prescription Drugs

The following is an edited press release from the Attleboro Police Department:

On Saturday, April 27 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Attleboro Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration are once again teaming up to give the citizens of Attleboro an opportunity to prevent pill abuse, misuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs. 

Residents can bring their medications for disposal to the police station at 12 Union St. The service is free and anonymous, and no questions are asked.

Americans turned in 377,080 pounds of prescription drugs at over 5,300 sites operated by the DEA in a similar program last year. The program involves nearly 4,000 state and local law enforcement agencies who partner up for this effort. In its three previous Take Back events, the DEA and its partners are reported to have taken in almost 1 million pounds of pills.

During  the initiative last year, Attleboro Police received three large trash bags full of prescription drugs that were submitted to the DEA for destruction. Fifty or more residents took advantage of the opportunity to remove the unwanted or outdated drugs from their homes.

This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue.  Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to misuse and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.

Residents are reminded that usual methods for disposing of unused medicines such as flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash pose potential safety and health hazards.