Permanent Drug Deposit Boxes Installed

There were several special ribbon cutting ceremonies last weekend during the National Drug Take Back Day.

The ribbon cutting ceremonies celebrated the installation of seven permanent drug take back boxes now available at capital area police stations in Allenstown, Bow, Henniker, Hillsboro, Northwood, Pembroke, and Pittsfield.

An eighth box is in the process of being installed and will soon be available in Concord.

These boxes will serve as permanent drop off locations for unused, unwanted, or expired prescriptions, according to a press statement. A Permanent Take Back Box is a secure metal box, similar to a post office box, to leave unused or expired prescription medications. Medicines in the home are a leading cause of accidental poisoning and flushed or trashed medicines can end up polluting our waters. Rates of prescription drug abuse are alarmingly high – with misuse often starting by someone taking unused prescriptions from family members or friends, often without their knowledge. More 32 percent of Capital Area youth report that it would be easy or very easy to access a prescription drug without a doctor’s prescription, often in their home medicine cabinets.

Partners in the effort include the Capital Area Public Health Network, Granite United Way, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, NH Bureau of Drug and Alcohol Services, Suncook Dental, CVS, and participating police departments.

“We are proud to partner with local and statewide leadership to bring this resource to the community,” said Patrick Tufts, President and CEO of Granite United Way. “When you think about statistics like one in five teens in NH have used prescription medications to get high and you also consider the heroin epidemic we currently face in New Hampshire, this is a step in the right direction. Removing unused prescription medications from homes eliminates one part of the issue.”

Permanent drug take back boxes will be located at the following Police Departments:

• Allenstown PD - 40 Allenstown Rd, Allenstown, NH 03275
• Bow Police Department - 12 Robinson Rd, Bow, NH 03304
• Concord PD – 35 Green Street Concord, NH 03301
• Henniker PD- 340 Old Routes 9 and 202, Henniker, NH 03242
• Hillsboro PD - 22 Municipal Dr, Hillsboro, NH 03244
• Northwood PD - 818 1st New Hampshire Turnpike, Northwood, NH 03261
• Pembroke PD - 247 Pembroke St., Pembroke, NH 03275
• Pittsfield PD - 59 Main Street, Pittsfield, NH 03263

“When I interview heroin addicts, about 90 percent of them mention their addiction began with unused medications in the home. This underscores the importance of discovering and disposing unused medications,” Jack Wozmack, Senior Director for Substance Misuse and Behavorial Health in the Governor’s Office. “It is great to see so many local organizations collaborating together to reduce the risk of substance misuse in this state.”

Wozmack also notes that any other community in New Hampshire that is interested in obtaining a Drug Take Back box should contact the Governor’s office.

Captions: Bow Police Department, Sergeant Merrigan with Annika Stanley Smith from Granite United Way. Allenstown Police Department, (from L to R), Dr. Andrew Albee from Suncook Dental, Chief Paquette, Detective Sergeant Shea