Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Get Ready and Get Set: National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day is this weekend!

by Jacqueline Longo, April 26, 2016

Program Coordinator, Youth Leadership
The Governor's Prevention Partnership

"On April 30, 2016 collection sites across Connecticut will provide safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing unwanted prescription drugs. You can prepare now by looking through your medicine cabinets to see if there is unneeded or expired medications that can be disposed of at a deposit safe deposit site.

View here to find a collection site near you!


“While medications can be an important part of treatment for psychiatric and health disorders, their misuse can become an addiction, and possibly lead to illegal drug use or overdose. It is critical for everyone to safely store and dispose of medications,” DMHAS Commissioner Dr. Miriam Delphin-Rittmon said. “Parents need to speak to their children openly about medication abuse so they understand the dangers. Children also need to resist peer pressure to use medications belonging to other people.”

If you cannot visit any of the safe deposit sites on April 30th, many local police departments have medication drop boxes in their lobby so residents can drop off unused prescription medication any time anonymously. There are currently 60 collection box locations in Connecticut.

View here to find a local collection box near you!

“While we continue our focus on addressing the heroin epidemic in the state, it is also important to raise awareness about how access to opioids and other prescription pain medication can lead some youth to addiction,” Lt. Governor Wyman said. “Our goal is to get this information out as widely as possible so that every parent and grandparent knows that securing their medication is critical.”

View additional resources
to speak with youth about the dangers of substance abuse.

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