Chief Marc Haslam and the Swansea Police Department are encouraging residents to drop off unwanted or unused medications at the police department’s 24/7 collection kiosk in recognition of National Drug Take Back Day this weekend.
National Drug Take Back Day is recognized this year on Saturday, Oct. 23. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) initiative is a biannual, free, no-questions-asked event that gives communities the opportunity to aid in the fight against substance use disorder by disposing of potentially dangerous expired, unwanted or unused medications.
“In recognition of National Drug Take Back Day being observed tomorrow, we would like to remind and encourage residents to drop off their old or unwanted prescriptions at our kiosk,” Chief Haslam said. “The kiosk, which is located right in our lobby, is accessible 24/7 and assists us in ensuring that unwanted prescriptions are safely disposed of so they don’t end up in the wrong hands.”
Swansea residents can drop off unwanted medications year-round, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at the Community Medication Collection Kiosk at the Swansea Police Station, 1700 G.A.R. Highway, where the medications will then be safely disposed of.
At the kiosk, residents are able to drop off prescription medicines, over-the-counter medicines, pet medications, sample medications and liquid medicines (must be in glass or leak-proof container). Residents may not drop off needles, thermometers, bloody or infectious waste, medication from businesses or clinics or aerosols at the kiosk.
According to the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, in 2019 alone an estimated 9.7 million people misused prescription pain relievers, 4.9 million people misused prescription stimulants and 5.9 million people misused prescription tranquilizers or sedatives.
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