MASSENA — Anyone who has unused or expired prescription medications can get rid of them during a Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday.
They can bring their medication — no syringes or liquids — to either the Massena Community Center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. or to the Massena Police Station lobby where a drop box is available 24 hours a day. Individuals are asked to remove any identifying information from medication bottles and drop-offs are anonymous.
The drugs that are collected are sealed up in a box and taken by the Drug Enforcement Administration for disposal. Drugs shouldn’t be flushed down the toilet because they might get into the water system or put in the garbage because there’s a chance someone may see and take them.
Special medication pouches that can be used to deactivate the drugs so they can’t be used are also available at the police station, as well as at the community center on Saturday.
Kristin Colarusso-Martin, coalition coordinator for the Massena Drug Free Coalition, said they hope to reach more people by holding the Prescription Drug Take Back Day at the Massena Community Center, 61 Beach St. They have also been held at Massena Memorial Hospital in the past, and the drop box at the Massena Police Station has also been well used, she said.
“We’re having it at the community center because we really want to reach out to our senior community. We want to catch that part of the population. Everybody knows where the community center is,” she said.
In addition, she said, “Some people don’t feel comfortable going to the police station.”
Because it’s a spring event, individuals don’t need to worry about snow or ice, and there’s plenty of parking available at the community center, she noted.
Reaching seniors is important because they may have more medications that need to be thrown away, Ms. Martin said.
A table will be set up where individuals can drop off their prescription drugs.
“We have to have police officers there to collect them,” she said.
There will also be educational material available, as well as other items like the special medication pouches that can be used to deactivate the drugs at home. The pouches can hold 45 pills, six ounces of liquid or six patches.
“People like them a lot,” Ms. Martin said.
Saturday’s Prescription Drug Take Back Day is hosted by the Massena Drug Free Coalition, Massena Police Department and the National Guard, which has a counter drug task force representative in the area.
For more information, call 315-764-3700, ext. 3621 or email kcolarusso-martin@svpc.net.