WHITMAN — Chief Timothy Hanlon is pleased to announce that the Whitman Police Department, in conjunction with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), will once again be participating in National Drug Take Back Day later this month.
WHEN:
Saturday, April 24, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
WHERE:
Whitman Police Department, 20 Essex 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, 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 in 2019. The survey also showed that a majority of misused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet.
Drug Take Back Day events provide an opportunity for Americans to prevent drug addiction and overdose deaths.
“Drug Take Back Day gives residents a safe and secure way to dispose of unused or expired medications, which will help to reduce the amount of misused medications in the community,” Chief Hanlon said. “We take the issue of substance use disorder very seriously, and will continue to work with our local, regional and state partners to help curb this issue.”
In addition to the take-back event on April 24, the Whitman Police Department reminds all Whitman residents that home sharps, as well as unopened packages of hypodermic needles and lancets, should not be disposed of in solid municipal waste, including household waste.
There are also separate kiosks located in the Whitman Police Department lobby for both sharps and unused prescription medications that may be dropped off at any time.
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