Foxborough Participating In National Drug Take Back Day

FOXBOROUGH, MA — The Foxborough Police Department will join cities and towns throughout Massachusetts participating in National Drug Take Back Day. The police department will accept expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 24, at the public safety building at 8 Chestnut St.

Police said they will collect sharps, nonprescription pills, prescription pills, and veterinary pills. Please leave all pills in their original container and black out all personal information. Keep the dosage information visible. Sharps must be in a sealed sharps container.

All collected drugs will be handed off to the DEA for destruction.

In spring 2019, Americans turned in nearly 469 tons (more than 937,000 pounds) of prescription drugs at more than 6,300 sites operated by the DEA, and almost 5,000 of its state and local law enforcement partners. Overall, in its 17 previous "Take Back" events, DEA and its partners have taken in more than 11.8 million pounds—approximately 5,900 tons—of pills.

Unused medicines in home cabinets are highly susceptible to misuse, abuse or falling into the hands of children. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the country are alarmingly high, as are the rates of accidental poisonings and overdoses. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's National Survey on Drug Use and Health shows year after year that the majority of misused and abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including someone else's medication being stolen from the home medicine cabinet.

In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines — flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash — both pose potential safety and health hazards.

For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs or about the Oct. 24 Take Back Day event, go to www.DEATakeBack.com.