Bellmore-Merrick Drug Take-Back Day – 11-3-18- Huge Success!

On behalf of the Bellmore-Merrick CHSD, each of the four component districts, and the Community Parent Center, we would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who participated in our fifth Drug Take-Back Day on Saturday, November 3rd at the Brookside School and helped to make it a huge success. Special thanks to the Nassau County Police Department, Senator Robert Brooks, Assemblyman David McDonough, Legislator Steve Rhoads, Legislator Tom McKevitt, Community Action for Social Justice, Bellmore Kiwanis Club, Merrick Kiwanis Club, LI Herald, Dunkin Donuts - Merrick Road - Bellmore, Dunkin Donuts -Merrick Avenue - Merrick, Town Bagel-Merrick Road - Bellmore, Stop and Shop-North Bellmore and all of the members of the Bellmore- Merrick Community Coalition and the Bellmore-Merrick Heroin Awareness Group for their dedication, commitment and support of our event.

The Bellmore-Merrick Drug Take-Back Day provided our community a safe, convenient, and responsible way to dispose of unused, unwanted or expired prescriptions and over-the-counter medications. We were overwhelmed by the support that we received from our entire community for this event, where we collected over 400 pounds (25 large trash bags) of medications for safe disposal along with over 250 pounds of sharps (syringes, Epi-pens, lancets).

This initiative addressed a vital nationwide public safety and public health concern. More than 2,000 teens (12-17) begin abusing prescription drugs each day (SAMHSA teen survey). At the same time, drug addiction experts contend that abuse of narcotics such as painkillers are a gateway to illegal street drugs such as heroin. The 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. The majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinets.

Thank you Bellmore-Merrick, for ridding your homes of both prescription and over-the-counter medications to keep our community safe from drug use. If you missed Drug Take- Back Day, you can dispose of your medications year-round at any Nassau County Police Precinct.

Remember: Keep all medications in a safe place: and if you are not using medicines make sure you dispose of them safely. By working together, we can help combat this issue; protect our youth, our community and our environment.