For Immediate Release

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 781-666-2012
Email: john@jgpr.net

Saugus Police to Participate in National Drug Take Back Event

SAUGUS – Chief Domenic DiMella is pleased to announce that the Saugus Police Department, in collaboration with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), will participate in National Drug Take Back Day next weekend.

Residents are encouraged to visit the Saugus Police Station, 27 Hamilton St. on Saturday, April 30 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to dispose of their unused, unwanted or expired prescription drugs. The event is free and anonymous. The DEA will accept pills and patches, but cannot take liquids, needles or sharps.

This will be the 11th Drug Take Back event hosted by the Saugus Police Department in the past six years. The purpose of these events is to give residents a safe, anonymous, free place to dispose of potentially dangerous drugs or prevent pill abuse.

“We are proud to participate in this year’s National Drug Take Back event,” Cheif DiMella said. “It has become a successful way to fight the war on drugs — both locally and nationally.”

Last September, Americans turned in 350 tons (over 702,000 pounds) of prescription drugs at more than 5,000 sites operated by the DEA and more than 3,800 of its state and local law enforcement partners. Overall, in its 10 previous Take Back events, DEA and its partners have taken in over 5.5 million pounds—more than 2,750 tons—of pills.

The Drug Take Back initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines—flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash—both pose potential safety and health hazards.

For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs or about the April 30 Take Back Day event, please visit the DEA Diversion website or sauguspd.com.

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