BUFFALO, N.Y.--U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul Jr. and Drug Enforcement Administration Resident Agent in Charge Michelle Spahn announced today that the public will have another opportunity to prevent prescription pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, or unwanted prescription drugs. The seventh National Take Back Initiative will take place this Saturday, October 26th from 10:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.
During the first six National Take Back events since September 2010, Americans turned in nearly 2.8 million pounds-almost 1,409 tons-of prescription drugs. Over 27 tons were collected in Western New York during the first six take backs, a total that represents one of the highest in the nation.
Prescription drugs that languish in medicine cabinets create a public health and safety concern because they are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high and indicate that almost twice as many Americans (6.8 million) currently abuse prescription drugs than the number of those abusing cocaine, hallucinogens, heroin, and inhalants combined, according to the 2012 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.
DEA is in the process of drafting regulations to implement the Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal Act of 2010, which amends the Controlled Substances Act to allow an “ultimate user" (the patient or patient’s caregiver, including the owners of animals being treated by veterinarians) of controlled substance medications to dispose of them by delivering them to entities authorized by the Attorney General to accept them. The Act also allows the Attorney General to authorize long term care facilities to dispose of their residents’ controlled substances in certain instances.
The following is a list of local collection sites:
Erie County Botanical Gardens, 2655 South Park Ave., Buffalo
St. Joseph’s Hospital, 2605 Harlem Rd., Cheektowaga
West Seneca Senior Center, 4620 Seneca St., West Seneca
Buffalo State College “C" Lot, 1300 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo
Kenmore Mercy Hospital, 2950 Elmwood Ave., Kenmore
West Herr Collision Center, 5140 Camp Road, Hamburg
Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital, 1540 Maple Rd., Williamsville
DeGraff Memorial Hospital, 445 Tremont St. North Tonawanda
Twin District Fire Department, 4999 William St., Lancaster
Mercy Ambulatory Center, 3669 Southwestern Blvd, Orchard Park
Grand Island Town Hall, 2255 Baseline Rd., Grand Island
Lockport Plaza, South Transit and Willow Streets, Lockport
North Collins Police Department, 10543 Main St., North Collins
Former Niagara Falls Police Headquarters, 520 Hyde Park, Niagara Falls
Mt. St. Mary’s Hospital, 5300 Military Rd., Lewiston
Bertrand Chafee Hospital, 224 E. Main St., Springville
Gowanda Village Municipal Building, 27 East Main St., Gowanda
Cattaraugus Indian Reservation Health Center, 36 Thomas Indian School Drive, Irving
Pembroke Town Highway Barns, Routes 5 and 77, East Pembroke
Batavia Police Department, 10 W. Main St., Batavia
Arcade Police Station, 17 Church St., Arcade
Wyoming County Sheriff’s Department, 151 North Main St, Warsaw
Alstar Hqs. North, 738 Monroe St., Dunkirk
LeRoy Police Department, 3 W. Main St. Le Roy
Salamanca City Municipal Building, 225 Wildwood Ave., Salamanca
Lionel R. John Health Center, 987 R.C. Hoag Dr., Salamanca
Medina Fire Department, 600 Main St., Medina
Orleans County Public Safety Building, 13925 State Route 31, Albion
Geneseo Fire Department, 132 Center St., Geneseo
Holley Fire Department, 7 Thomas St., Holley
E. Avon Fire Department, 1615 W. Henrietta Road, Avon
Cuba Volunteer Fire Department, 51 East Main St., Cuba
Cattaraugus County Office Building, 1 Leo Moss Dr., Olean
Chautauqua Mall, 318 East Fairmount Ave., Lakewood
Brockport Police Department, 1 Clinton St., Brockport
Dansville Fire Department, 11 Franklin St., Dansville
Wellsville Fire Department, 20 S. Main St., Wellsville
Jamestown Pharmacy, 121 Liberty St., Jamestown
Monroe County Ecopark/Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, 10 Avion Dr., Rochester
Dansville Fire Department, 11 Franklin St., Dansville
Gates Police Department, 1605 Buffalo Rd., Gates
Brighton Police Department, 2300 Elmwood Ave., Brighton
Greece Police Department, 400 Island Cottage Rd., Greece
Almond Volunteer Fire Department, 1 Marvin Lane, Almond
East Rochester Police Department, 254 W. Ivy St., East Rochester
FF Thompson Hospital, 350 Parrish St., Canandaigua
Fairport Police Department, 31 S. Main St., Fairport
Webster Police Department, 226 Phillips Rd., Webster
Macedon Town Hall, 1620 Wayneport Rd., Macedon
Palmyra Police Department, 144 E. Main St. Palmyra
Wayne County Sheriff’s Office, Ontario Sub Station, 1850 Ridge Rd., Ontario
Wegman’s Plaza, 800 W. Miller St., Newark
Loson’s Big M Market, 33 Forgham St., Lyons
New York State Police, 3957 Rt. 104, Williamson
Yates County Sheriff's Department, 415 Liberty St., Penn Yan
Hammondsport Volunteer Fire Department, State Route 54, Hammondsport
Sodus Police Department, 39 Gaylord St., Sodus
Tyrone Fire Station, 3600 State Route 226, Tyrone
Corning Police Department, 1 Civic Center Plaza, Corning
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
