Chief Daniel Valadas is proud to announce his department’s participation in the upcoming National Drug Take Back Day. This event provides a secure, convenient, and responsible way of disposing of prescription drugs while also raising awareness about the potential for medication abuse.
The event is scheduled for Saturday, April 27, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Ludlow Police Department, 612 Chapin Street, Ludlow, MA.
Residents are encouraged to bring expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs to the police headquarters for safe disposal. The service is free and anonymous, and no questions are asked.
This initiative is vital in addressing public safety and public health issues, as unused medicines in homes are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. Unfortunately, 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.
Chief Daniel Valadas said, “It is too often that we come across prescription medication used by someone other than the patient who originally received the prescription. Not only is this dangerous, but it is a drug supply that is easy to stop. Take a few minutes and check your house for expired medication or meds that are no longer needed, and turn them in at our collection site on Saturday.”
Please note that the Ludlow Police Department can only accept pills or patches, not liquids, needles or sharps.
At the conclusion of the event, all collected medications will be delivered to the DEA for safe disposal. The DEA sponsors National Drug Take Back Day twice a year and has collected over 8,950 tons of prescription medication since the program’s inception in 2010.
For more information, please visit www.deatakeback.com or contact the Ludlow Police Department at (413) 583-8305.
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