Chief James McIntyre
47 Central Street
Stoneham, MA 02180-2044
For Immediate Release
Tuesday, May 2, 2017
Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 781-533-9398
Email: john@jgpr.net
Stoneham Police Collect Nearly 200 Pounds of Drugs During Take Back Day
STONEHAM — Chief James McIntyre is pleased to announce that the Stoneham Police Department turned in 198.8 pounds of expired and unused medications to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) this past weekend.
Residents turned in their drugs on April 29, during the DEA’s National Drug Take Back Day, as well as through the department’s collection kiosk in the station’s lobby and two additional take back events conducted in town.
“I truly appreciate the commitment on the part of Stoneham’s citizens to regularly participate in efforts to dispose of unwanted and unused prescription drugs,” Chief McIntyre said. “These take back events are just one example of the ways that the police department and the community can work together to do our part to fight the nationwide opioid epidemic, and we are happy to continue working alongside the DEA to remove these dangerous drugs from our community.”
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 October, Americans turned in 366 tons (over 730,000 pounds) of prescription drugs at almost 5,200 sites operated by the DEA and more than 4,000 of its state and local law enforcement partners. In its 12 previous Take Back events, the DEA and its partners have collected over 7.1 million pounds — more than 3,500 tons — of pills.
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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