This Saturday, April 28th is National Prescription Drug Take Back Day
Contact: Beth Stone- 508- 584-8120
April 25, 2018
Safely dispose of your unwanted pills in med return boxes at police stations around Plymouth County
BROCKTON – Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz and Sheriff Joseph McDonald are urging Plymouth County residents to get out this Saturday and safely recycle their expired and unwanted medications as part of National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.
Saturday, April 28th is National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, a day sponsored by the U.S. Justice Department Drug Enforcement Administration and organized to encourage citizens to properly dispose of unused, unwanted and expired medications. In 2013, DA Cruz and Sheriff McDonald announced the local Plymouth County Drug Take Back Program and partnered with Covanta Energy’s Rx4Safety Program to place med return drop boxes in police stations around Plymouth County.
This Saturday from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., residents are encouraged to dispose of their unwanted or expired medications into boxes located inside participating police departments, which are under 24-hour surveillance. Medications accepted are pills, capsules, patches, prescription medications and ointments and medicines in leak-proof, unbreakable containers. Over-the-counter medications, vitamins and pets medicines are also accepted. No needles will be accepted and all drops are completely anonymous.
“All too often, substance abuse has started in the home when someone gains access to a medicine cabinet,” DA Cruz said. “Taking a few minutes to get rid of leftover and expired medications could mean eliminating the risk that drugs are misplaced, stolen or misused. Participating in National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is a small but important thing to do to keep illegal drugs off our streets and out of our neighborhoods.”
Med return boxes are currently located at all police stations in Plymouth County except Plympton. Residents there should go to the Carver Police Department. Additionally, campus police stations at Bridgewater State University, Massasoit Community College and Stonehill all now have drug return boxes. Police inventory and log the contents of the disposal box and the drugs are transported to Covanta Energy’s incinerator in Plymouth where they are destroyed and turned into renewable energy.
According to the U.S. Justice Department Drug Enforcement Administration Diversion Control Program, 27,694 pounds were collected in Massachusetts one year ago on National Take Back Day in April, 2017.
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