Bristol, Warren Police Collecting Unused Prescriptions on Saturday

The Bristol Police Department and Warren Police Department will once again take part in the National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, scheduled for Saturday from 10 am to 2 pm at each town's police headquarters.

According to Rhode Island Atty. Gen. Peter Kilmartin, Rhode Islanders have disposed of more than 6,000 pounds of prescription drugs since the program began in 2010.

Kilmartin noted that abuse of prescription drugs "is becoming an epidemic" in Rhode Island, and is listed as the number-one cause of death in the state.

“The non-medical use of prescription drugs is a growing public safety issue, leading to accidental poisoning, overdose and abuse. In fact, non-medical use of prescription drugs ranks second only to marijuana as the most common form of drug abuse in America,” said Kilmartin. “Users don’t need to buy their drugs on dark street corners. Most abused prescription drugs come from family and friends — and the home medicine cabinet. You could be a drug dealer and not even know it.”

Under the program, local officers will accept any unused or old prescriptions, no questions asked. The service is free and anonymous, Kilmartin's press release noted.

The Bristol Police Department is located at 395 Metacom Ave.; the Warren Police Department is located at 1 Joyce St.