Chief James McIntyre
47 Central Street
Stoneham, MA 02180-2044
For Immediate Release
Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2016
Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 781-533-9398
Email: john@jgpr.net
Stoneham Police Collect More than 160 Pounds of Drugs During Take Back Day
STONEHAM — Chief James McIntyre is pleased to announce that the Stoneham Police Department turned in 166 pounds of expired and unused medications to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for proper disposal last month.
Residents turned in their drugs on Oct. 22, during National Drug Take Back Day, and through the department’s collection kiosk in the station’s lobby.
“It’s great that so many people continuously come out to properly dispose of their unwanted or unused prescription drugs, as we know that easily accessible medications are often abused or misused,” Chief McIntyre said. “This is just one of the ways that we as a police department can address the nation’s opioid epidemic, and we will continue to work with the DEA to remove these potentially dangerous drugs from homes in town.”
National Drug Take Back Day is a free and anonymous event coordinated by the DEA and police departments. The designated day gives the public an opportunity to prevent substance abuse by disposing of potentially dangerous expired, unused, or unwanted prescription drugs in their possession. The DEA accepted pills and patches but does not take liquids, needles, or sharps.
Last April, during its 11th Take Back Day, the DEA, and more than 4,200 of its national, tribal and community law enforcement partners, collected 893,498 pounds (about 447 tons) of unwanted prescription drugs at almost 5,400 collection sites. Over the life of the program, 7.1 million pounds (more than 3,500 tons) of prescription drugs have been removed from medicine cabinets, kitchen drawers, and nightstands by citizens around the country.
Residents who missed the National Drug Take Back Day can also drop off their prescription drugs at the Stoneham Police Department’s MedReturn kiosk, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs, visit the DEA Office of Diversion Control website, or contact the Stoneham Police Department at 781-438-1215.
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