Pawling Residents: Answer the Prescription Drug Take-Back Challenge Saturday

PAWLING, NY — Pawling residents, you have to help your community out on Saturday.

State Senator Terrence Murphy has issued a challenge to collect 1,000 pounds of expired and unwanted prescription drugs this Saturday on National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, and six communities in Dutchess, Putnam and Westchester counties — Yorktown, Mount Kisco, Croton-on-Hudson, Mahopac, Mt. Pleasant and Pawling — have accepted.

The challenge will be held in various locations in recognition of National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on Saturday. Anyone with unwanted or expired medications can bring them to one of six designated locations where they will be disposed of safely by the police.

"There is a war of attrition going on with dealers and drug abusers on one side and concerned families on the other," said Murphy in an announcement about the challenge. "Anything we can do to raise awareness and rid ourselves of potentially dangerous drugs can turn the tide and help us win the war. I know our communities will be up for this challenge."

Carmel Town Supervisor Kenneth Schmitt added, "It is important we do our part to keep our communities safe from the growing drug epidemic. The Thousand Pound Challenge will be an effective method for disposing potentially dangerous unused and unwanted prescription drugs that could otherwise threaten our friends and families."

Americans are becoming increasingly aware of the problems from prescription drug abuse. In 2014, more than 14,000 people died from overdoses involving prescription opioids. Murphy, who serves as Co-Chair of the Senate Task Force on Heroin and Opioid Addiction, has also fought to reduce prescription drug abuse through his "Shed the Meds" program, which was held in Westchester and Putnam counties this summer.

The locations and times for the 1,000 Pound Prescription Drug Take-Back Challenge on October 22nd are:

Yorktown - 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Yorktown Town Hall
363 Underhill Avenue
Co-Sponsored by Senator Murphy, the Town of Yorktown, the Yorktown Police Department and Yorktown Against Heroin.

Mount Kisco - 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Westchester County Police Precinct
40 Green Street
Co-Sponsored by Senator Murphy, the Village of Mt. Kisco, the Westchester Police Department and the Mt. Kisco Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention Council.

Croton-on-Hudson - 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Croton Commons
175 Riverside Avenue
Co-Sponsored by Senator Murphy, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Croton Police Department and Croton Community Coalition.

Mahopac - 10:00 a.m. to Noon
Mahopac Library
668 Route Six
Co-Sponsored by Senator Murphy, the Town of Carmel, Carmel Police Department, Drug Crisis in Our Backyard, Mahopac Chamber of Commerce and Putnam Chamber of Commerce

Mt. Pleasant - 9:00 a.m. to Noon
Mt. Pleasant Community Center
125 Lozza Drive
Co-Sponsored by Senator Murphy, the Town of Mt. Pleasant and the Mt. Pleasant Police Department.

Pawling - 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
160 Charles Coleman Boulevard
Co-Sponsored by Senator Murphy, the Town of Pawling and the Council on Addiction Prevention and Education.