Local police department across the Merrimack Valley and Southern New Hampshire are encouraging their communities to participate in Saturday’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. The DEA-backed effort allows citizens to safely turn in used or expired medication for disposal.
Held on Oct. 28 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the national program will include Andover, Georgetown, Groveland, Methuen, Atkinson and Plaistow police departments.
Residents with concerns about privacy do not need to worry about leaving personal information on the medication bottles, as they will be incinerated immediately following the event. Pills and patches can be turned in; liquids, needles or sharps are not accepted.
During the last Take Back Day in April, 450 tons of medication was turned in at 5,500 sites nationwide.
“Too often, unused prescription drugs find their way into the wrong hands. That’s dangerous and often tragic,” Acting DEA Administrator Robert W. Patterson said in a statement. “That’s why it was great to see thousands of folks from across the country clean out their medicine cabinets and turn in – safely and anonymously – a record amount of prescription drugs.”
Below is a tentative list of local communities participating in Take Back Day.
Andover: Dispose of medication at West Elementary School in the front driveway, 58 Beacon St.
Georgetown: Dispose of medication at the Georgetown Police Department, 47 Central St.
Groveland: Dispose of medication at the Groveland Police Department front lobby, 181 Main St.
Methuen: Dispose of medication at Sanborn Hall, 90 Hampshire St.
Atkinson: Dispose of medication at the Atkinson Police Department, 27 Academy Ave.
Plaistow: Dispose of medication at Rite Aid, 31 Garden Rd.