GLOUCESTER — Chief Edward Conley is pleased to announce that the Gloucester Police Department, in conjunction with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), will once again be participating in National Drug Take Back Day this weekend.
WHEN:
Saturday, April 24, from 10 a.m. to noon.
WHERE:
Rose Baker Senior Center Parking Lot, 6 Manuel F. Lewis St.. Residents are encouraged to enter the parking lot off of Rogers Street and exit onto Manuel F. Lewis 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.
Residents are encouraged to place the unwanted medications into a container or into a disposable plastic bag that can be dumped into the disposal bins. The DEA does not accept medications disposed of in blister packs.
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.
“We can’t stress enough how important it is to properly dispose of unwanted and expired prescription medication, and this biannual initiative offers a local, easy opportunity to drop off these drugs and get them out of your medicine cabinet,” Chief Conley said. “We encourage residents looking to dispose of these types of medications to stop by.”
The Gloucester Police also have a permanent take back box in the police station lobby for those who wish to dispose of prescriptions, but are unable to attend Take Back Day.
Residents should note that no liquids, needles, sharps or inhalers can be dropped off at the kiosk.
The community is also reminded that masks and social distancing will be required at both the Gloucester 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
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