East Greenwich Police To Take Part In Drug Take-Back Day Oct. 23

EAST GREENWICH, RI — The East Greenwich Police Department will join cities and towns throughout Rhode Island participating in National Drug Take Back Day.

The police department will accept expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 23, at the police station at 176 1st Ave.

Drop-offs are anonymous, and no paperwork is necessary. At this time, the department is only accepting pills, powders or patches. E-cigarettes and vapes can be dropped off only if the battery has been removed.

Liquids, creams, new or used needles or aerosols, such as inhalers, will not be accepted.
All collected drugs will be handed off to the DEA for destruction.

In April 2021, Americans turned in 420 tons (nearly 840,000 pounds) of prescription drugs at nearly 5,060 sites operated by the DEA, and more than 4,400 of its state and local law enforcement partners.

Unused medicines in home cabinets are highly susceptible to misuse, abuse or falling into the hands of children. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the country are alarmingly high, as are the rates of accidental poisonings and overdoses. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's National Survey on Drug Use and Health shows year after year that the majority of misused and abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including someone else's medication being stolen from the home medicine cabinet.

In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines — flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash — both pose potential safety and health hazards.

For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs or about the Oct. 24 Take Back Day event, go to www.DEATakeBack.com.