National Drug Take Back Day

RX Drugs Drug Take Back Day is April 26th

MCCA (Midwestern Connecticut Council of Alcoholism), Stand Together Make a Difference (Danbury’s local substance abuse prevention coalition), and Danbury Police Department in conjunction with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) are partnering to sponsor a prescription drug take back day on Sat. April  26, 2014.

This will give the public another opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous, expired, unused and unwanted prescription medications. Bring your medications to the Danbury Police Department, 375 Main St. Danbury, CT from 10:00am-2pm for safe disposal.

Last year, 108.3 lbs of prescription drugs were collected in Danbury.  Multiply that times the many communities across the state that are involved with the program and that’s a lot of drugs out of the reach of our youth. Since 1990, prescription drug overdose rates have tripled. This includes both accidental and intentional deaths.

This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue.  Medicines that remain in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.  In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines-flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash- both pose potential safety and health hazards.

To inquire, please contact Terry Budlong, Director of Prevention Services at the MCCA, tbudlong@mccaonline.com or LT John Browne at the Police Department, j.browne@danbury-ct.gov