Drug Take-Back Day Upcoming in Suffield

SUFFIELD, CT — The Suffield Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration will give the public its 14th opportunity in seven years to prevent prescription medication abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs.

Suffield residents may bring their unwanted pills to the parking lot of CVS Pharmacy at 163 Mountain Road on Saturday, Oct. 28, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Suffield police officers will be on hand to collect and remove the unwanted medication. No liquids, needles or sharps or chemotherapy medications can be accepted.

This free and anonymous public service is provided to Suffield residents by their police department in partnership with CVS Pharmacy.

Last April, Americans turned in tons of prescription drugs at more than 5,000 sites operated by the DEA and more than 3,800 of its state and local law enforcement partners. Overall, in its 13 previous Take Back events, the DEA and its partners have taken in over six million pounds of pills.

This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs.

Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now advised that their traditional methods for disposing unused medications - flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash – are now known to pose health and safety hazards to people and to our environment.

Please consider possibly saving a life and the environment by bringing your unwanted medications on Oct. 28. If you are unable to do so, residents may deposit small quantities of unwanted medications in the Prescription Medication “Drop-Box” in the lobby of Suffield Police Headquarters, located at 911 Mountain Road, at any time.

Story courtesy of Suffield Police Department
Photo credit: Tim Jensen