BLACKSTONE — Chief Gregory Gilmore is pleased to announce that the Blackstone Police Department, in conjunction with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), will be participating in National Drug Take Back Day this weekend.
WHEN:
Saturday, April 24, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
WHERE:
Blackstone Police Department, 15 St. Paul St.
WHAT:
National Drug Take Back Day is a biannual, free, no-questions-asked event that gives the community the opportunity to aid in the fight against substance use disorder by disposing of potentially dangerous expired, unwanted or unused prescription drugs. As part of the event, residents can drop off unwanted pills or patches, but not liquids, needles or sharps.
According to the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, in 2019 alone an estimated 9.7 million people misused prescription pain relievers, 4.9 million people misused prescription stimulants and 5.9 million people misused prescription tranquilizers or sedatives.
“Removing unwanted, unused or expired prescription medication from the home helps to ensure anyone who is not supposed to have the medication no longer has easy access to it,” Chief Gilmore said. “We encourage residents to drop off any pills or patches at the Take Back Day event this weekend and we’d also like to remind residents that we have a MedReturn drop-box available each day of the year in the station lobby.”
The Blackstone Police Department has a permanent MedReturn drop-box in the police station lobby that is available 24/7/365 for anyone who wishes to dispose of prescriptions, but is unable to attend Take Back Day.
Residents should note that needles/sharps, thermometers, hydrogen peroxide, inhalers, aerosol cans, medication from businesses or clinics, or over-the-counter ointments, lotions or liquids cannot be dropped off at the MedReturn kiosk.
The community is also reminded that masks and social distancing will be required at both the Blackstone Police Department’s National Drug Take Back Day event and any time residents visit the drug disposal kiosk during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs, about this month’s Take Back Day or for complete results from past Take Back Day events, visit www.DEATakeBack.com.
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