Tewksbury PD To Take Back Unused Prescription Drugs

(Editor's note: The following information was submitted by Tewksbury Police Chief Timothy Sheehan.)

On April 27^th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the Tewksbury Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will give the public another opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs.  Bring your medications for disposal to Police Headquarters at 918 Main Street.  The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked

This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue.  Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, 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. In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines—flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash—both pose potential safety and health hazards. .

Residents are instructed to remove the pills from the prescription bottles and seal them in a plastic “Ziploc” type bag before arriving at Police Headquarters.  The police will not be supplying materials for the disposal of unwanted medications nor do they want residents to be packaging the meds in the lobby.  The pills should be ready for immediate deposit into the kiosk upon arrival to the station lobby.  No liquids or sharps will be allowed to be disposed.  For more information on how or where to dispose of liquid medication or sharps, please contact the Board of Health at (978)640-4473.