Drug Disposal

Hanson Police to Participate in National Drug Take Back Day

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Hanson Police Department
Michael Miksch, Chief of Police
775 Main St.
Hanson, MA 02341

For Immediate Release

Monday, Oct. 21, 2019

Contact: Benjamin Paulin
Phone: 781-742-3922
Email: [email protected]

Hanson Police to Participate in National Drug Take Back Day

HANSON — Chief Michael Miksch is pleased to announce that the Hanson Police Department, in conjunction with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), will once again be participating in National Drug Take Back Day.

WHEN:

Saturday, Oct. 26, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

WHERE:

Hanson Police Department, 775 Main St.

WHAT:

National Drug Take Back Day is a free, no-questions-asked event that gives the community the opportunity to aid in the fight against substance abuse 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.

“The Drug Take Back event offers the community the chance to turn in their prescription pills and we encourage residents to stop by with the medications they no longer need,” Chief Miksch said. “We’d also like residents to know that in case they have medications to turn in but are unable to come to the event, the Hanson Police Department has a drop box available to residents 24/7 in our lobby.”

Last fall, Americans turned in nearly 469 tons (more than 937,000 pounds) of prescription drugs at nearly 6,300 sites operated by the DEA and almost 5,000 of its state and local law enforcement partners. Locally, more than 80,000 pounds of drugs were collected in Massachusetts.

Overall, in its 17 previous Take Back events, the DEA and its partners have taken in more than 11.8 million pounds of pills.

For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs, about the Oct. 26 Take Back Day or for complete results from past Take Back Day events, visit www.DEATakeBack.com.

 

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Boxborough Police to Host Drug Take Back Day Event

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Boxborough Police Department
Warren B. Ryder, Chief of Police
520 Massachusetts Ave.
Boxborough, MA 01719

For Immediate Release

Thursday, Oct. 10, 2019

Contact: Kelsey Bode
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Boxborough Police to Host Drug Take Back Day Event

BOXBOROUGH — Chief Warren Ryder reports that the Boxborough Police Department will hold a Prescription Drug Take Back Day event next week.

WHEN:

Tuesday, Oct. 15 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

WHERE:

Boxborough Police Headquarters, 520 Massachusetts Ave.

WHAT:

National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is a semi-annual event that is administered by the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Thousands of law enforcement agencies across the country hold prescription “take back” events biannually in an effort to provide residents with an easy, accessible way to dispose of expired or unwanted prescription drugs. Drug Take Back events also serve as an opportunity for law enforcement agencies to educate the public about the potential for abuse of medications.

Studies suggest that the majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet.

“We’re encouraging residents to take part in next week’s Prescription Drug Take Back Day, and properly dispose of medications that can be dangerous to store at home,” Chief Ryder said. “As our society continues to combat the opioid crisis, we feel a duty as a department to do our part to help our community dispose of these drugs.”

Boxborough residents are encouraged to drop off expired and unused prescription medications at the Prescription Drug Take Back Day Event, where Boxborough Police will take over custody of the medication and properly dispose of it.

Residents should note that liquids, needles or sharps will not be accepted.

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Groveland Police Install Drug Collection Box

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Groveland Police Department
Jeffrey Gillen, Chief
Public Safety Building
181 Main St
Groveland, MA 01834

For Immediate Release

Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2019

Media Contact: Kelsey Bode
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Groveland Police Install Drug Collection Box

The Groveland Police Department installed its first drug drop off box at the Public Safety Station on Main Street this September. (Courtesy Photo Groveland Police Department)

GROVELAND — Chief Jeff Gillen is pleased to announce that the Groveland Police Department has installed a drug drop off box at its headquarters.

The box, located in the lobby of the public safety building at 181 Main St., provides 24-hour, no questions asked access for local residents to dispose of drugs, unneeded prescriptions and unused medication samples.

Liquids, needles, sharps or inhalers cannot be disposed of in the box, however.

The Groveland Police Department was able to install the box thanks to a grant from the Massachusetts Unwanted Opioid and Benzodiazepine Product Stewardship Program, which is overseen by MED-Project. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has tasked MED-Project with overseeing the program, which facilitates and supports the safe disposal of drugs throughout the state.

“Having a drug drop off box makes it significantly more convenient for our residents to dispose of unwanted medications and drugs safely,” Chief Gillen said. “It’s incredibly important, as we continue to address the opioid crisis, that we all dispose of these substances appropriately, instead of storing them in a medicine cabinet at home.”

Easily accessible, unused prescriptions in homes are highly susceptible to misuse. Studies have shown that the majority of improperly diverted prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including the home medicine cabinet. The drug disposal unit will help to reduce the amount of unneeded medicine in residents’ homes and decrease the potential for prescription drug misuse.

Residents are advised to avoid disposing of unused medications by flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the garbage, as doing so carries potential safety and health risks.

Contact the Groveland Police Department at 978-521-1212 with any questions or concerns.

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Groveland Police To Collect Unwanted Prescriptions During Scouts’ Electronics Recycling Fundraiser

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Groveland Police Department
Jeffrey Gillen, Chief
Public Safety Building
181 Main St
Groveland, MA 01834

For Immediate Release

Thursday, May 10, 2018

Media Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Groveland Police To Collect Unwanted Prescriptions During Scouts’ Electronics Recycling Fundraiser

GROVELAND — Chief Jeffrey Gillen is pleased to announce that the Groveland Police Department will be available to collect unwanted prescription drugs during the Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts’ electronics recycling event this weekend.

WHEN:

Saturday, May 12 from 9 a.m. to noon

WHERE:

Perry Park, 4 King St.

WHO:

  • Boy Scout Troop 87
  • Cub Scout Pack 113
  • Groveland Police Department
  • Highland Shredding
  • Allied Computer Brokers

WHAT:

Boy Scout Troop 87 and Cub Scout Pack 113 will host their annual electronics recycling fundraiser, and will welcome the Groveland Police Department to collect any unwanted or unneeded household prescription drugs.

Any resident who wishes to dispose of prescription pills, patches or liquid medications may safely do so by turning them over to an officer who will be at the recycling event. Liquids should be placed in a sealed plastic bag, and residents should note that sharps and needles will not be accepted.

Residents are invited to dispose of unwanted electronics, which will be safely recycled, as well as any sensitive documents they no longer need and would like to have destroyed. Boxes of paper will be shredded for a fee of $10 per box.

A wide variety of electronics, including computers, modern televisions, VCRs, stereos and small appliances will be accepted for recycling. For a complete list of accepted items and fees for disposal, which range from $5 to $25 per item, click here.

Groveland Police will be collecting prescriptions free of charge, and neither scouts nor parent volunteers will be involved in the collection process for those items.

“We are excited to participate in this event and support a great fundraiser for the scouts,” Chief Gillen said. “This is an excellent opportunity to not only dispose of old electronics and sensitive paperwork, but to ensure that any potentially dangerous drugs are removed from residents’ homes. I encourage everyone to stop by.”

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