Knock-Knock: New Initiative Encourages Pill Tossing In Framingham

FRAMINGHAM, MA—Framingham police are pushing an effort to make the "Knock, Talk and Toss" initiative more understandable, to everyone.

FPD is partnering with the Framingham Housing Authority (FHA) and JSI Research & Training Institute to increase awareness of proper drug disposal while making it easier to do so. Bilingual teams are currently going door to door in the city to explain how it works.

Prescription drugs left unattended or forgotten in medicine cabinets are one of the most accessible gateways to opiate and heroin abuse, according to this announcement from JSI Research & Training Institute. Prescription drug abuse is high, as is the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to this. Getting rid of the drugs from the home is the first step in getting safer.

Since 2015, the Framingham Police Department and Public Health Department have co-hosted the Drug Enforcement Agency’s National Drug Take-Back Day; now twice per year. On Saturday, April 28, Framingham collected 460 pounds of unwanted, unused, and expired drugs—100 pounds more than this time last year.

“We wanted to address some of the challenges we have heard that keep people from properly disposing of unwanted drugs," says Dr. Tammy Calise, director of JSI Healthy Communities, in a statement. "Some individuals are limited in their ability to get to the drop off sites due to disabilities, age, lack of transportation, and demanding schedules; other experience substance-related stigma or are concerned about their immigration status."

With grant funding from the Sudbury Foundation, Mutual One Bank, and the Reinvestment Fund, Knock, Talk, and Toss will continue throughout the summer. JSI will evaluate the program and create a report for the police department that will inform not only the town of Framingham’s next efforts, but could help other departments around the state and country.

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