Port Chester Takes 28 Pounds of Unwanted Prescription Drugs Off the Streets

A blue, white and green box at Port Chester Police Headquarters is helping the village keep drugs off the street.

Since they installed it a few months ago, an anonymous MedReturn drop off box allows residents to dispose of outdated and unwanted prescription medications safely. Lt. James Ladeairous said that since the program began, Port Chester has safely disposed of 28 pounds of prescription medications.

"That's a lot of pills that won't get into the wrong hands," Ladeairous said.

Law enforcement agencies throughout the region have been conducting similar prescription drug collection programs as a response to an increase in the illegal sale and abuse of prescription medications — especially by young people. Investigators have found that a popular source of drugs among those who illegally sell them is the medicine cabinet of friends and family members.

Drug investagors at the local, county, state and national levels have found that a way to cut this easy supply of drugs is to have families clean out their medicine cabinets and safely dispose of unwanted medications. At hospitals throughout the region, medical experts also urge the safe disposal of old medications because they have seen many young people face life-threatening reactions because they took powerful prescription medications that they thought would give them a high.

While the drug disposal program is aimed at cutting crime and preventing death and injury, officials say another benefit of the program is that it protects the environment. Prescription medication users are urged not to dispose of old medications in the trash or by pouring them into the sink or toilet.

National studies have shown prescription medications improperly disposed have polluted the environment, including public and private water supplies. Through collection programs such as Port Chester's, prescription medications are incinerated at state-certified facilities.

The Port Chester drug disposal program is free an anonymous. Residents can dispose of old and unwanted medications in the container that is located in the lobby of the Police Department Headquarters on North Main Street. No questions are asked.

The program accepts things such as medication patches, vitamins and over-the-counter drugs, as well as medications for pets. However, the disposal program does not accept hyperdermic needles and the program does not accept household hazardous wastes or pesticides.