Local participation in National Prescription Drug Take Back Day safely disposes of nearly 1 ton of drugs
Law enforcement from the DEA, local police and Hampshire and Franklin Sheriff's office unload boxes of drugs in Northampton.
At the Smith Vocational High School drop off site Saturday, Former Northampton police officer Andy Trushaw, Detective Luann Caputo and Hampshire Deputy Sheriff David Fenton unload and catalogue boxes..![Hampshire Deputy Sheriff Dave Fenton weighs boxes at Saturday's drug collection event.]](https://www.northwesternda.org/sites/g/files/vyhlif3601/f/styles/gallery_full/public/galleries/dave_weighs.jpg?itok=LEaUrxow "Hampshire Deputy Sheriff Dave Fenton weighs boxes at Saturday's drug collection event.")
Hampshire Deputy Sheriff Dave Fenton weighs boxes at Saturday's drug collection event.
Local, county and federal law enforcement unload boxes of drugs turned in for disposal Saturday.
Crews at Saturday's drug take back event unload from surrounding Hampshire and Franklin County communities.
Each box is weighed and recorded.
Saturday's drug take back event netted 1,935 pounds of unneeded drugs for disposal.
Drugs turned in at participating National Prescription Drug Take Back Day collection sites in Hampshire and Franklin counties Saturday weighed in at 1,935 pounds as local residents cleaned out medicine chests to safely dispose of unneeded drugs, keeping them out of water sources and landfills.
“Our office works with law enforcement partners and community coalitions to remove drugs from the community in an effort to prevent drug diversion that poses grave risks to young people and people in recovery,” said Northwestern District Attorney David E. Sullivan. “This is an ongoing community education process and a key strategy to reducing overdose death rates. I appreciate that residents show up year after year for these collection efforts.”
Twice annually, the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office collaborates with the Hampshire and Franklin Sheriff’s offices, county-based TRIAD initiatives, local police departments and the national Drug Enforcement Agency to offer the event. Local and regional youth prevention coalitions also support the drug take back days.
Hampshire County communities taking part Saturday were Amherst, Belchertown, Easthampton, Hadley, Northampton, Pelham, South Hadley, Williamsburg and Worthington. In Franklin County, Deerfield, Greenfield, Montague and Sunderland participated.
Since 2011, collection days combined with permanent drug collection boxes at most area police departments in Hampshire and Franklin counties and Athol have safely disposed of more than 65,500 pounds of unneeded prescription and non-prescription drugs.