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The National Drug Take-Back Day is Saturday, April 26, and local collection sites include the Danbury Police Department, 375 Main St.
“Improper disposal of medications can lead to contamination of our waterways or theft and abuse,” said state Rep. Richard A. Smith (R-108). “These collections are a great opportunity to clear out space in your medicine cabinet while safely disposing of potentially dangerous substances.”
Reports indicate that 20 percent of teens intentionally misuse someone else's prescription drugs to get high, and many obtain the drugs from raiding the medicine cabinets of friends and relatives. In other cases children and pets have gotten into medications that that have caused long-term health problems and death.
The improper disposal of pharmaceuticals and over-the-counter drugs has also been reported to negatively impact the environment and public health, as some drugs cannot be safely flushed or poured down drains because wastewater facilities are not designed to remove them. In some cases drugs can find their way into lakes, rivers and streams and into drinking water.
Only medications will be accepted at the collections; needles and syringes will not be accepted.
For more information on the national drug take-back program, visit www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov.
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