The Amherst Police and Amherst Health Department, in partnership with the Hampshire/Franklin TRIAD program, Northwestern District Attorney’s Office, Hampshire and Franklin County Sheriff’s Department, and a broad range of community partners are working with the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and have a announced a Prescription Drug Take Back Day scheduled for Saturday, October 29, 2011.The Amherst site, is at the Wildwood School, 71 Strong Street.
More than seven million Americans currently abuse prescription drugs, according to a national survey by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration. Every day, some 2,500 teenagers use prescription drugs to get high for the first time. Most of the prescription drugs being abused are obtained from family and friends, sometimes from their medicine cabinets without their knowledge.
Communities from Amherst to Athol are participating, with central drop-off points in Northampton and Greenfield, Saturday, October 29, 2011 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Drugs collected at the central drop-off points will be picked up by members of the National Guard to be deposited at a DEA facility for destruction.
According to the Office of Northwestern District Attorney David E. Sullivan, at the last Take Back Day, on April 30, more than 376,593 pounds (188 tons) of unwanted or expired medications were collected at 5,361 take-back sites in all 50 states. This was 55 percent more than the 242,000 pounds (121 tons) collected on the first Take Back Day in September, 2010. In New England, Massachusetts led the way, with some 12,354 pounds collected.
You can bring your prescription and non-prescription medication to the drop off site located closest to your community. It is anonymous and the pills can be in their original containers. We cannot accept: needles, syringes, lancets, thermometers, IV bags, chemo drugs or liquids of any type. Go to northwesternda.org for a list of other drop off locations within Hampshire and Franklin County
For more information, contact Office Jamie Reardon at 413-259-3012.
Communities from Amherst to Athol are participating, with central drop-off points in Northampton and Greenfield, Saturday, October 29, 2011 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Drugs collected at the central drop-off points will be picked up by members of the National Guard to be deposited at a DEA facility for destruction.
According to the Office of Northwestern District Attorney David E. Sullivan, at the last Take Back Day, on April 30, more than 376,593 pounds (188 tons) of unwanted or expired medications were collected at 5,361 take-back sites in all 50 states. This was 55 percent more than the 242,000 pounds (121 tons) collected on the first Take Back Day in September, 2010. In New England, Massachusetts led the way, with some 12,354 pounds collected.
You can bring your prescription and non-prescription medication to the drop off site located closest to your community. It is anonymous and the pills can be in their original containers. We cannot accept: needles, syringes, lancets, thermometers, IV bags, chemo drugs or liquids of any type. Go to northwesternda.org for a list of other drop off locations within Hampshire and Franklin County
For more information, contact Office Jamie Reardon at 413-259-3012.
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