Crime & Safety

Yorktown Police Department 'Takes Back' Prescription Drugs

The Yorktown Police Department participated in the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)'s second National Prescription Take-Back Day on Saturday, April 30.

The  took in approximately 25 pounds of prescriptions drugs the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)’s second on Saturday, April 30.

Four bags and two boxes were quickly filling up by noon as the collection effort took place between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. The department was the drop off site for the collection of expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs that could be potentially dangerous if left in the family’s medicine cabinet. 

Oxycodone medications as well as other heavy duty pain killers, both expired and still unexpired, were among the prescription drugs people came to drop off, Yorktown Lt. Robert Noble said. 

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"They're smart for coming here and getting rid of the drugs," he said. 

Anyone who could not make it to the drop off location in Yorktown, could also dispose of any prescription medication at the Hudson Valley Hospital Center, Monday through Friday from noon to 3 p.m., Lt. Noble said. 

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Last September Americans turned in more than 242,000 pounds of prescription drugs at nearly 4,100 sites operated by more than 3,000 of the DEA’s state and local law enforcement partners. 

Yorktown Police Chief Daniel McMahon said the prescription drugs were to be collected with “no questions asked.” A member of the DEA took the prescription drugs the Yorktown Police Department and would dispose of them properly. 

Lt. Noble said people should not throw any prescription drugs in the trash because they can be retrieved and abused or illegally sold. And if your name or address is still written on the box, that could be potentially dangerous for identity theft. People should not flush unused drugs because it could contaminate the water supply, police said. Instead, if programs are not available, people can take the medicine out of the bottles, mix it with something unappealing like used kitty litter or coffee grounds, seal the drugs in a bag or disposable the container and throw it away.

For more information visit www.dea.govwww.getsmartaboutdrugs.comwww.justthinktwice.com


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