New Milford Police Chief Shawn Boyne demonstrates how to dispose of drugs in the medication drop box in the NMPD lobby
NEW MILFORD — A medication drop box installed at the New Milford Police Department in October has been successful in providing a safe way for the town’s residents to dispose of unwanted drugs.
“It has been a wild success,” said Mark Mankin, New Milford Youth Agency executive director. “It’s being emptied every other week. This is an important part of getting prescription drugs and pain killers no longer being used out of home medicine ca.
Mankin, whose agency chairs the New Milford Substance Abuse Council, explained that prescription pain killers from home medicine cabinets can be a gateway drug to opiate abuse.
Located in the main lobby of the police department, the box can be used for the disposal of unwanted household pharmaceuticals 24/7 when the lobby is open.
Items that can be deposited include: over-the-counter and prescription medications; medical samples; household pet medicines; and medical ointments.
Medications such as chemotherapy drugs and medical practitioners supplies cannot be disposed in the drop box.