Safely dispose of your unwanted pills in med return boxes at police stations around Plymouth County
News Advisory Contact: Beth Stone (508) 584-8120
BROCKTON – Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz is reminding
residents to safely recycle their expired and unwanted medications at drop boxes in police
stations around the county as part of Plymouth County’s Prescription Drug Take Back Program.
Saturday, October 28th is National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, a day sponsored
by the U.S. Justice Department Drug Enforcement Administration and organized to encourage
citizens to properly dispose of unused, unwanted and expired medications. In 2013, DA Cruz and
Plymouth County Sheriff Joseph McDonald announced the local Plymouth County Drug Take
Back Program. Partnered with Covanta Energy’s Rx4Safety Program, the boxes were placed in
police stations around Plymouth County.
Residents are asked to dispose of their unwanted or expired medications into boxes
located inside participating police departments, which are under 24-hour surveillance. Police
inventory and log the contents of the disposal box and the drugs are transported to Covanta
Energy’s incinerator in Plymouth where they are destroyed and turned into renewable energy.
“Unfortunately, we have seen instances where substance abuse begins in the home when
someone gains access to a medicine cabinet,” DA Cruz said. “Taking a few minutes to get rid of
unused and expired medications could mean eliminating that risk of drug theft and abuse. Taking
advantage of National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is a small but important step that we all
must take to keep illegal drugs off our streets and out of our neighborhoods.”
According to the U.S. Justice Department Drug Enforcement Administration Diversion
Control Program, 900,386 pounds were collected across the United States as National Take Back
Day on April 29, 2017. Of that, the DEA estimated that 27,694 pounds were collected in
Massachusetts.
Drug return boxes are currently located at all police stations in Plymouth County except
Plympton. Residents there should go to the Carver Police Department. Addtionally, campus
police stations at Bridgewater State University, Massasoit Community College and Stonehill all now have drug return boxes. Residents in those towns are encouraged to bring medicines to police stations in their area. All drops are completely anonymous.
Medications accepted are pills, capsules, patches, prescription medications and ointments
and medicines in leak-proof, unbreakable containers. Over-the-counter medications, vitamins
and pets medicines are also accepted. No needles will be accepted.
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