Drug Enforcement Administration

*UPDATED* East Bridgewater Police to Participate in National Drug Take Back Day

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East Bridgewater Police Department
Scott Allen, Chief of Police
153 Central St.
East Bridgewater, MA 02333

For Immediate Release

Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2019

Contact: Benjamin Paulin
Phone: 781-428-3299
Email: [email protected]

East Bridgewater Police to Participate in National Drug Take Back Day

E-Cigarette and Vaping Products Now Accepted

EAST BRIDGEWATER — Chief Scott Allen is pleased to announce that the East Bridgewater 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 2 p.m.

WHERE:

East Bridgewater Police Department, 153 Central St.

WHAT:

National Drug Take Back Day is a free and anonymous 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.

“The East Bridgewater Police Department has seen great support for National Drug Take Back Day in the past, and we look forward to another successful event later this month,” Chief Allen said. “These medications often sit unused in a drawer or in a medicine cabinet, where they could be stolen or accidentally ingested by a child. This is an excellent chance for us to get these drugs out of circulation.”

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, 160 pounds of which were collected in East Bridgewater.

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

As part of the event, residents can drop off unwanted pills or patches, but not liquids, needles or sharps. 

New this year, sites will be collecting vaping pens and e-cigarette devices as well, after batteries are removed.

According to the DEA, vaping pens with batteries still in them are a different waste stream designation and are considered a potential fire hazard. For devices that have batteries that cannot be removed, residents are asked to call their local hazardous waste management facility or check with large electronic chain stores who may accept the devices for proper disposal.

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. Information from East Bridgewater Police Department can be found at www.ebpd.org as well on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

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Merrimac Police Collect 51 Pounds of Medication During National Drug Take Back Day

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mpdpatchMerrimac Police Department
Eric M. Shears, Chief of Police
16 East Main St.
Merrimac, MA 01860

 

For Immediate Release

Wednesday, May 8, 2019

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

Merrimac Police Collect 51 Pounds of Medication During National Drug Take Back Day

MERRIMAC — Chief Eric Shears is pleased to announce that the Merrimac Police Department turned in 51 pounds of unused medication following National Drug Take Back Day.

In collaboration with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Merrimac Police coordinated a “take back” event on April 27 at the Merrimac Police Station on East Main Street.

The collection event was part of a semi-annual initiative, where thousands of law enforcement agencies across the country work to provide community members with an easy, accessible way to dispose of expired or unwanted prescription drugs.

This April’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day set new records, according to the DEA, as approximately 6,400 collection sites were set up by local, state, tribal and federal groups. As a result, approximately 469 tons of prescription medications were collected and disposed of.

Since the first Prescription Drug Take Back Day event was held in the fall of 2010, approximately 5,908 tons of medication has been collected through semi-annual, DEA-sponsored events.

The Merrimac Police Department has hosted two Prescription Drug Take Back Days per year since 2013, and since then has accepted and properly disposed of several hundred pounds of unused medication.

“Prescription Drug Take Back Days are a great opportunity for residents to discard unwanted or expired medications safely,” said Police Sgt. David Vance. “It’s also a great opportunity for us to educate residents about the dangers of prescription drug use.”

Studies suggest that the majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet, and Take Back Day offers Americans a safe and secure way to remove those excess drugs from their homes.

Residents who missed National Drug Take Back Day can still turn in their unused medications at the Merrimac Police Department’s kiosk, which is located in the police station lobby. Residents should note that liquids, needles or sharps are not accepted.

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*Media Advisory* Surgeon General to Visit Arlington Police Department Saturday

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Arlington Police Department
Julie Flaherty, Acting Chief of Police
112 Mystic St.
Arlington, MA 02474

For Immediate Release

Friday, April 26, 2019

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

*Media Advisory*

Surgeon General to Visit Arlington Police Department Saturday

U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams will visit the Arlington Police Department Saturday as part of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s National Drug Take Back Day. (Photo Courtesy of the Office of the Surgeon General)

ARLINGTON — Acting Police Chief Julie Flaherty is pleased to announce that U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams will visit the Arlington Police Department tomorrow.

WHEN:

Saturday, April 27. The Surgeon General will be available at 11 a.m. for a 10-15 minute media availability.

WHERE:

Arlington Police Department, 112 Mystic St.

WHAT:

U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams will visit the Arlington Police Department Saturday to raise awareness for National Drug Take Back Day, 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.

Media who would like to attend the event must RSVP by contacting Arlington Police Capt. Richard Flynn at [email protected].

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Dartmouth Police Seeing Increased Success With Prescription Drug Take Back Program

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Dartmouth Police Department
Brian P. Levesque, Chief of Police
249 Russells Mills Road
South Dartmouth, MA 02748

For Immediate Release

Thursday, May 24, 2018

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

Dartmouth Police Seeing Increased Success With Prescription Drug Take Back Program

DARTMOUTH — Chief Brian P. Levesque reports that the Dartmouth Police Department’s prescription drug take back program has seen increased success so far this year.

The department has collected and destroyed approximately 111 pounds of unused and unwanted prescription drugs this year. This time last year, the department had collected approximately 45 pounds.

“I am glad to see that the program has seen more than double the amount of unwanted drugs collected between this year and last year,” Chief Levesque said. “In Dartmouth, we are committed to providing an avenue for residents to safely dispose of unused medications throughout the year. If anyone wants to get rid of their old pills, they can do so at the station any time.”

To go along with Dartmouth’s success, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) recently announced that National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, held on April 28, was a record-setting day for the initiative.

The DEA’s 15th annual National Prescription Drug Take Back Day collected and destroyed close to one million pounds—nearly 475 tons— of potentially dangerous prescription drugs, making it the most successful event in DEA history.

The total amount of prescription drugs collected by the DEA since the fall of 2010 is now 9,964,714 pounds, or 4,982 tons.

Residents can drop off their prescription drugs at any time in the collection box located in the Dartmouth Police Department’s lobby.

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