Granby Police Department Participates in Drug Drop-Off Day

Nearly 2,500 teenagers use prescription drugs to get high for the first time every day, according to the Partnership for a Drug Free America.  

Many of these drugs can be found in household medicine cabinets, accessible by children and teenagers, and pose the risk of being abused by these populations. 

The Granby Police Department was one of more than 5,300 sites across the nation on Saturday that participated in the second National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. The department also took part in the first event, held last September. 

The United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), along with state and local enforcement agencies, held the take-back day in an effort to curb abuse and theft of the prescription drugs. 

“The purpose is just to get it out of the house,” said Granby Police Officer Jeremiah Dowd. “And the water system.”

Unused and unwanted prescription drugs could be flushed down the toilet and eventually end up in the water systems, or in the hands of young children visiting a home.

“Curious children in a house that doesn’t have children in the house normally,” Dowd said, can pose a hazardous situation. 

Overall, the purpose, Dowd said, “Is getting it out of the wrong hands.”

The officers working the drop-off estimated that approximately 25 people had come within the first 45 minutes of the event. They collected expired, unwanted and unused prescription drugs with no questions asked, with the exception of needles and syringes. 

“Its been going well,” Dowd said within the first hour. 

Dowd said the department hopes to continue again next year with the national event.

“We hope so, based on the success,” he said. “It’s just getting the word out so people know.”

Last year, Dowd said a lot of people found out about the event after it had concluded, and wished they had known about it.

According to the DEA, Americans handed over approximately 242,000 pounds, equivalent to about 121 tons, of prescription drugs at over 4,000 sites in September. 

After the conclusion of the four-hour collection, the DEA will come up and pick up the prescription drugs and dispose of them.