Medication Take-Back Day a Success

Within five hours, 152 Putnam residents dropped off approximately 500 pounds of unused and unwanted medications at Putnam County Medication Take Back Day. The event, which took place on Nov. 2nd, was sponsored by Putnam County Communities That Care, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office and Putnam County Health Department.

 “Members of the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office are delighted that the success of this event means that these medications, including controlled narcotics, will never fall into the hands of our most precious resource—our children and grandchildren. The community is truly safer because of the teamwork between the agency partners in the Communities That Care Coalition,” said Sheriff Donald B. Smith. “I thank Social Services Commissioner Mike Piazza, Health Commissioner Dr. Allen Beals, Deputy DSS Commissioner Joe DeMarzo, Coalition Coordinator Elaine Santos, our pharmacists, members of law enforcement and all our team members who participated in this outstanding event.”

Prescription drug abuse has reached epidemic proportions. Overdose deaths from prescription painkillers have skyrocketed in the past decade. Every year, nearly 15,000 people die from overdoses involving these drugs—more than those who die from heroin and cocaine combined, according to the Centers for Disease Control.  Events like Medication Take Back  Day are designed to reduce the number of deaths from such overdoses.