Chief Domenic J. DiMella
27 Hamilton Street
Saugus, MA 01906
For Immediate Release
Thursday, May 5, 2016
Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 781-666-2012
Email: john@jgpr.net
Saugus Police Collect 90 Pounds of Drugs in National Drug Take Back Event
SAUGUS – Chief Domenic DiMella is pleased to announce that the Saugus Police Department, in collaboration with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), collected 90 pounds of drugs during its National Drug Take Back Day last Saturday.
Residents were encouraged to visit the Saugus Police Station, 27 Hamilton St. on Saturday, April 30 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to dispose of their unused, unwanted or expired prescription drugs. The event was free and anonymous. All drugs and substances were then discarded by the DEA.
This was the 11th Drug Take Back event hosted by the Saugus Police Department in the past six years. The purpose of these events is to give residents a safe, anonymous, free place to dispose of potentially dangerous drugs and to prevent pill abuse.
“These take back events are very successful in our community,” Chief DiMella said. “We value our community’s safety and will continue to do everything in our power as officers to help fight the opioid epidemic sweeping Massachusetts.”
About National Drug Take Back Day:
Last September, Americans turned in 350 tons (over 702,000 pounds) of prescription drugs at more than 5,000 sites operated by the DEA and more than 3,800 of its state and local law enforcement partners. Overall, in its 10 previous Take Back events, the DEA and its partners have taken in over 5.5 million pounds—more than 2,750 tons—of pills.
The Drug Take Back initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicine that sits in home cabinets are highly susceptible to 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—pose potential safety and health hazards.
For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs or about the April 30 Take Back Day event, please visit the DEA Diversion website or sauguspd.com.
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