The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and almost 4,000 of its national, tribal, and community law enforcement partners will hold the ninth National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. Americans can take their expired, unneeded, or unwanted prescription drugs to one of over 5,200 collection sites across the country between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.
There are several places in the area to turn in your unused or expired medication for safe disposal. Only pills and other solids, like patches, can be brought to the collection sites — liquids and needles or other sharps will not be accepted.
In Bridgewater, the Drug Take-Back drop off point is the Resident State Trooper’s Office, 152 Hut Hill Road.
Also listed as participating in this Drug Take-Back Day are the following locations:
| DANBURY POLICE DEPARTMENT, 375 Main St. | ||||||
| BETHEL POLICE DEPARTMENT, 49 Plumtrees Road | ||||||
| SHERMAN RESIDENT TROOPER’S OFFICE, 43 Route 39 N, right side of the Town Garage | ||||||
| NEWTOWN POLICE DEPARTMENT, 3 Main St., in the lobby | ||||||
| CSP TROOP A, Southbury RTO, 421 Main St. South in Southbury | ||||||
| CSP TROOP A, State Trooper Barracks, 90 Lakeside Road in Southbury |
To check for other locations, click here and enter a ZIP code or town to search, or call 800-882-9539.
Unused medications in homes create a public health and safety concern, because they can be accidentally ingested, stolen, misused, and abused. While the number of Americans who currently abuse prescription drugs dropped in 2013 to 6.5 million from 6.8 million in 2012, that is still more than double the number of those using heroin, cocaine, and hallucinogens like LSD and Ecstasy combined, according to the 2013 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.
So, check those cabinets and turn in any prescriptions you no longer need.