North Reading Police To Host Prescription And Vape Take-Back Day

NORTH READING, MA — North Reading police are hosting a drug take back event at the end of October.

The police department and North Reading Community Impact Team’s Youth Substance Use Prevention Coalition are partnering with the Drug Enforcement Agency to let residents safely dispose of unused and outdated prescription medication.

Sites cannot accept liquids, needles or sharps, only pills or patches. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.

The event will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Oct. 24 at the Senior Center front parking lot.

Police Chief Michael Murphy explained, “Our drug take-back program has been a huge success for the past few years. Of course, we’re concerned about keeping that program active during COVID restrictions. All of our programs are adapting, and we want to make sure that people have a safe way to continue to rid their homes of unused prescriptions.

In order to maintain safety, residents are required to wear masks and remain in their vehicles. Signs will direct cars to enter one way, drop off their vapes and unused medications directly into bins, and exit as directed under the guidance of NRPD officers.

This year, the event is also accepting vapes as part of the “Ditch the Vape,” campaign.

Residents who are concerned about leaving their houses, have another option. The Community Impact Team is offering free drug deactivation bags. These bags contain chemicals to render drugs inactive and are suitable for pills, patches, and liquid medications. The sealable bags can then be disposed of safely in the trash.

Deactivation bags are also able to be delivered to all Meals on Wheels clients in partnership with the O’Leary Senior Center, are available at the Food Pantry, and can be delivered to home mailboxes. To receive a free drug deactivation bag, contact Amy Luckiewicz at coalition@northreadingma.gov or call (978)357-5054.