Crime & Safety

DA Gerry Leone and Police Chief Flannery Unveil Drug Collection Unit

As part of the Middlesex District Attorney's Office's push to get more prescription drugs off the streets, Hopkinton is one of 29 towns that will be home to a collection receptacle.

It might look like a recycling bin you would see in a restaurant or theme park, but the green box inside the Hopkinton Police Department entrance serves a much more important purpose.

According to statistics cited by District Attorney Gerry Leone at the unveiling of the drug collection unit, prescription drug use is the number one fastest growing drug problem in the country.

"Home medicine cabinets are quick easy and free access to mind and mood altering drugs," Leone said.

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Hopkinton Police Chief Richard Flannery said the new receptacle helps community members that can't make it to the drug take-back days dispose of their old and unused prescriptions in a safe and environmentally friendly way.

"This will be available to the public 24/7 in a no questions asked environment," Flannery said. "You can walk in through the door drop your medicines off and leave without saying a word to anyone."

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Flannery reminded community members that for safety reasons thermometers and needles should not be disposed of in the unit, he also shed that it is not the proper place to dispose of illicit drugs.

The unit was purchased for the Hopkinton Police Department through drug forfeiture funds obtained by the District Attorney's Office that are collected off drug dealers.

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