The Drug Enforcement Administration has scheduled the fourth of a series of National Prescription Drug Take-Back Days to collect expired, unneeded and unwanted prescription drugs and, for the third time, the Westfield Police Department will participate on Saturday, April 28.
The goal of the program is both to avoid the improper disposal of potentially hazardous chemicals which are being found, in trace amounts, in the drinking water supplies of some communities and to prevent misuse of prescription drugs.
In the city, the Take-Back Day collection is coordinated by the police department’s detective bureau which has organized the two previous collection events in the city.
Det. Brian Fanion, the department’s property officer, said that although the last collection was on the day of the Halloween snow storm which largely shut down the area, the storm didn’t have a big impact on the collection.
“We had a good turnout” Fanion said “because it didn’t start snowing until later in the day. He added, “Actually, I think it was bigger than the first one.”
Det. Lt David Ragazzini, the commander of the detective bureau, said that the community benefits from the collections in two ways.
He said that keeping discarded drugs out of the trash stream not only keeps them out of the aquifer but it also prevents the misuse of prescription medications by family members or by anybody who might steal them.
He said that misuse of prescription drugs, especially those intended to relieve pain, is one of the fastest growing substance abuse issues his detectives deal with.
A DEA statement reports that a 2009 national survey showed that “more Americans currently abuse prescription drugs than the number of those using cocaine, hallucinogens and heroin combined.” The report also states that “teens who abuse prescription drugs often obtain them from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.”
Michael Suckau, the city’s director of public health, said “prescription medication abuse is a public health concern as well. I support the DEA and their program to help remove medication from circulation.”
He also said that, from a public health point of view, that responsible disposal of medication is important to keep them out of the water supply.
He said that he knows of studies which suggest that the trace amounts of medications found in water supplies are largely the result of medicine passing through users’ bodies and entering the aquifer via waste treatment plants but said it is still important to treat unwanted drugs responsibly.
“It’s important to be responsible on all fronts” he said.
Ragazzini said that on Saturday unwanted or expired medicine will be collected between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the police department garage on the south side of the building.
He said that the drugs will be taken “no questions asked” but pointed out that no sharps (such as hypodermic needles or lancets) or liquids can be accepted.
He said that over-the-counter and veterinary drugs will also be accepted.The collection will also be offered locally in Southwick and Huntington.
Lt. David Ricardi of the Southwick Police Department said that his department will be participating in the National Prescription Drug Take-Back Days program for the second time but pointed out that the collection will not be at the police station.
He said that medications will be accepted on Saturday at the new Department of Public Works facility at 661 College Highway, the former site of the Suburban Chevrolet dealership.
Except for sharps and liquids, Ricardi said medications will be accepted, “no cost, no questions”, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the DPW garage.
In Huntington, the collection will be at the town’s transfer station at 7 Mill Street.
