The U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administrationhas declared this Saturday, September 27, "Drug Take-Back Day" across the country. It's an event that has happened a couple times a year, over the past four years. The idea is to make it convenient for people to safely and anonymously dispose of unwanted or expired prescription drugs.
According to the DEA, drugs that are flushed down the toilet or otherwise improperly disposed of can contaminate groundwater. Drugs that sit unused in medicine cabinets can be a target of theft and abuse.
Police stations, sheriff's departments and drug retailers around Vermont are participating. If you're not sure where to find the drop off nearest you, the DEA has created an online tool where you can enter your location and learn the location and distance of participating drop offs.
Most locations will be accepting drugs from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Saturday. Some Vermont law enforcement organizations have permanent drop offs that are available to residents year round. Most notably, Windsor County has permanent drop offs at police departments in Chester, Hartford, Ludlow, Royalton, Springfield, Windsor, and Woodstock. These permanent sites are supported in part by the Windsor County Partnership for Success.
Windsor County Sheriff Mike Chamberlain commented in a press release, “Rates of prescription drug abuse in this country are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. We look forward to participating in Take-Back Day again this spring as part of our continuing effort to protect the health and safety of Windsor County residents.”
During the last Drug Take-Back Day in April, Windsor County residents alone turned in 259 pounds of drugs.
