Hazardous Meds Collected by Sheriffs in Deer Park School Program

One September evening, Deer Park High School became the center of an ongoing effort in Suffolk County to collect hazardous medications that could enter the groundwater if disposed of improperly and more importantly prevent them from falling into the hands of people who might be tempted to abuse them.

According to a statement released by the district, the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department was at the school on Sept. 27 to accept the medications during a "Shed the Meds” program sponsored by Suffolk County Legislator Lou D’Amaro. The event coincided with the school’s “Back to School." This was the first of many of similar drug and alcohol education programs that will take place throughout the district this year.

"These programs will all take a proactive approach – tailored to each school in the district – to involve the entire school community in helping to solve these societal issues," the district said in its statement.

Deputy Dennis Creter manned the booth in the school’s lobby that night with his partner Carl Vultaggio. Deputy Creter told the district that halfway through the event they had taken in over a dozen large bags worth of potentially hazardous medications for disposal by the department.

“Better that they drop them off with us than dump them into our water supply,” he said.