Full list of communities gearing up for Saturday's prescription drug disposal event

NORTHAMPTON – Local residents are encouraged to clean out medicine chests and dispose of unneeded medication for humans and pets at 14 Hampshire and Franklin county locations participating in National Prescription Drug Take Back Day Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m..

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In Hampshire County, 9 communities are preparing drug collection sites staffed by first responders while five more towns in Franklin County are participating. These sites provide a safe way to dispose of unwanted and unneeded drugs, saving lives by preventing misuse or accidental ingestion.

“It’s crucial to remain vigilant about removing drugs from homes to prevent misuse,” said Northwestern District Attorney David E. Sullivan. “It’s really common sense: In the midst of an overdose epidemic, prescription drugs must not be allowed to sit around. It’s much safer for children, teens and even pets to remove these substances from homes, not to mention our friends and loved ones struggling with addiction.”

The Northwestern District Attorney’s Office teams up with local police departments, the Hampshire and Franklin Sheriff’s offices, county-based TRIAD initiatives and the national Drug Enforcement Agency to organize the twice-a-year collections.

Take Back locations are: at police departments in Deerfield, Hadley, Leverett, Montague, Pelham, South Hadley and Sunderland. Other local drop off sites are: Wildwood Elementary School, 71 Strong Ave., Amherst; the Town Common in Belchertown; Fire bays at the Easthampton Public Safety Complex; Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School on Locust Street in Northampton; Williamsburg Hardware on Route 9 in Williamsburg; the Highway Department at 64 Huntington Road in Worthington; Walmart, 555 E. Main St., Orange.

Just under 70,000 pounds of drugs have been safely disposed of since 2011 during Take Back Days and through permanent drug collection boxes stationed at area police departments. These efforts rid the region of unneeded prescription and non-prescription drugs, keeping them out of water sources, landfills and preventing misuse.

Full list of drop off locations with addresses by town

Amherst           Wildwood Elementary, 71 Strong Ave.

Belchertown     Town Common, Park Street

Deerfield          Police Department, 8 Conway St.

Easthampton    Public Safety Complex 32 Payson Ave.

Hadley              Public Safety Complex 15 East St.

Leverett            Police Department, 90 Montague Road

Montague         Police Department, 180 Turnpike Road

Northampton    Smith Vocational & Agricultural High School, 80 Locust St.

Pelham             Police Department, 2 South Valley Road

Orange             Walmart parking lot, 555 East Main St.

South Hadley    Police Department, 41 Bridge St.

Sunderland       Police Department, 105 River Road

Williamsburg    Williams Hardware, 49 Main St. (Route 9)

Worthington     Highway Department, 64 Huntington Road