National Prescription Drug Take Back Day observed in 15 local commuities
NORTHAMPTON – Ten communities in Hampshire County and five more in Franklin County are participating the National Prescription Drug Take Back Day Saturday to provide an opportunity to safely dispose of unwanted and unneeded drugs. People are encouraged to clean out medicine cabinets and drop off unneeded drugs – for humans or pets – in a collective effort to save lives by preventing misuse or accidental ingestion.
Take Back collections are scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at police departments in Deerfield, Erving, Hadley, Leverett, Montague, Pelham, Southampton, South Hadley and Sunderland. Other drop off sites are at Wildwood Elementary School, 71 Strong Ave., Amherst; the Town Common in Belchertown; Easthampton Public Safety Complex fire bays; 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.
The Northwestern District Attorney’s Office is teaming up with the Hampshire and Franklin Sheriff’s offices, the county-based TRIAD initiatives, local police departments and the national Drug Enforcement Agency to offer the take back event locally for the 23rd time.
“These collection days are collaborative efforts that keep our communities safer. New drug prescriptions are written every day and the unused drugs must be removed from people’s homes for the good of everyone,” said Northwestern District Attorney David E. Sullivan. “It’s an ongoing effort and the most basic form of harm reduction.”
More than 65,500 pounds of drugs have been safely disposed of since 2011 during Take Back Days offered twice annually 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.