On Saturday, April 30, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., local law enforcement departments and the Drug Enforcement Administration are hosting a prescription drug take back program.
The purpose of this program is to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs. This service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.
If you live in northern Franklin County and are looking for a place to dispose of unwanted pills, bring your medications to the at the Carrabassett Valley Police Department, which is located on Sugarloaf Mountain at the end of the Sugarloaf Access road; go through the metal gate, turn left then park near one of the police vehicles. The entrance to the PD is located next to the sign that reads: “Sugarloaf Public Safety Office.”
If you live in southern Franklin County, the Jay Police Department is collecting medications for disposal at Hannaford’s Supermarket located at Jay Plaza on Main St in Jay.
The Franklin County Sheriff’s Department will be collecting meds at the Sheriff’s Office at 123 County Way in Farmington. The Rangeley Police Department will also have a disposal site available.
Last September, Americans turned in 242,000 pounds – 121 tons – of prescription drugs at nearly 4,100 sites operated by the DEA and more than 3000 state and local law enforcement partners.
This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including 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.
