On September 27 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the Brockport Police Department (BPD) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will give the public its ninth opportunity in three years to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs. Bring your items for disposal to the Brockport PD located at 1 Clinton Street, Brockport. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.
This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue, according to a press release from the BPD. 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.
DEA is in the process of approving new regulations that inmplement the Safe and Responsible Drug Disposal Act of 2010, which amends the Controlled Substances Act to allow an “ultimate user” (that is, a patient or their family member or pet owner) of controlled substance medications to dispose of them by delivering them to entities authorized by the Attorney General to accept them. The Act also allows the Attorney General to authorize long term care facilities to dispose of their residents’ controlled substances in certain instances, according to the press release issued by the Brockport Police Department.
No appointments are necessary to participate in “National Take Back Day.” Waste from pharmacies, veterinary offices and pharmaceutical businesses are not accepted at these Pharmaceutical waste drop-offs. Residents can access a full schedule by calling 753-7600 (option #3) or by viewing the county’s online household hazardous waste appointment scheduler at http://www.monroecounty.gov/hhw.
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