Robert Bongiorno
Chief of Police
2 Mudge Way
Bedford, MA 01730
For Immediate Release
Monday, April 28, 2014
Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 781-533-9398
Email: john@jgpr.net
Bedford Police install 24-hour drug drop box at police station
Bedford Police Chief Robert Bongiorno is pleased to announced that the Bedford Police Department has installed a safe and secure drug drop box at the police station.
The drop box provides 24-hour, no questions asked access for local residents to dispose of drugs, unneeded prescriptions, unused medication samples, and even veterinary medications.
“I am proud to offer the MedReturn Drug Collection service in the Town of Bedford. It is vital that unused prescription drugs are properly disposed of so that they do not end up in the wrong hands,” Chief Bongiorno said. “Anyone with unwanted or expired prescription drugs can come by the police station, 24 hours a day, and there are no questions asked. This is something that Bedford residents have been asking for, and it will be a great resource to our community. It is important that people have a resource like this to prevent controlled substances from potentially harming people instead of helping people. I want to thank District Attorney Ryan for helping to make this program possible.”
The MedReturn Drug Collection Unit was provided by Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan, as part of the Middlesex Drug Take-Back Program, a county-wide effort to reduce prescription drug abuse and addiction.
“Middlesex County and the entire Commonwealth have been battling a frightening epidemic of drug abuse. We have a seen an increase in overdoses and fatal overdoses due in part to an influx of heroin that is believed to be laced with fentanyl, a powerful drug that can cause respiratory failure,” District Attorney Ryan said in a statement earlier this month. “There is a direct connection between illegal prescription drug abuse and heroin use. Many people who start abusing painkillers and other medications often find themselves turning to heroin for a cheaper, stronger high. The drug collection unit is one prevention measure that can be very effective in ensuring that children and teens do not have access to powerful prescription narcotics that could lead them down a path toward addiction.”
Click here for a useful flyer that local businesses can post!
