BRIDGEWATER — Chief Christopher Delmonte is pleased to announce that the Bridgewater Police Department, in conjunction with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), will once again be participating in National Drug Take Back Day.
WHEN:
Saturday, Oct. 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
WHERE:
Bridgewater Police Department, 220 Pleasant St.
WHAT:
National Drug Take Back Day is a free, no-questions-asked event that gives the community the opportunity to aid in the fight against substance abuse by disposing of potentially dangerous expired, unwanted or unused prescription drugs.
As part of the event, residents can drop off unwanted pills or patches, but not liquids, needles or sharps.
“Drug Take Back Day events have shown great success in previous years as a convenient way to get rid of medications that may otherwise just sit in the home’s cabinets,” Chief Delmonte said. “Turning in unused medications ensures that they will be properly disposed of and can’t become a safety hazard through misuse or abuse.”
Last fall, Americans turned in nearly 469 tons (more than 937,000 pounds) of prescription drugs at nearly 6,300 sites operated by the DEA and almost 5,000 of its state and local law enforcement partners. Locally, more than 80,000 pounds of drugs were collected in Massachusetts.
Overall, in its 17 previous Take Back events, the DEA and its partners have taken in more than 11.8 million pounds of pills.
New this year, sites will be collecting vaping pens and e-cigarette devices as well, after batteries are removed.
According to the DEA, vaping pens with batteries still in them are a different waste stream designation and are considered a potential fire hazard. For devices that have batteries that cannot be removed, residents are asked to call their local hazardous waste management facility or check with large electronic chain stores who may accept the devices for proper disposal.
For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs, about the Oct. 26 Take Back Day or for complete results from past Take Back Day events, visit www.DEATakeBack.com.
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