Collection sites:
• 220 Washington St. The Somerville Police Department (available 24/7)
• 6 Newbury St. (Teele Square) Somerville Fire Station
DID YOU KNOW
• Two-thirds of teens who report abuse of prescription medicine are getting them from friends, family and acquaintances. Make sure the teens in your life don’t have access to your medicine.
• 80% OF INDIVIDUALS IMPACT BY THE CURRENT OPIOD EPIDEMIC STARTED WITH PRESCRIPTION MEDICINES
• Medicines poured into water sources such as sinks and toilets contaminate the environment
• Learn about Narcan and how to access this to save a life.
SOMERVILLE – Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone, the Somerville Health Department and the Somerville Police & Fire Department announced today that, in collaboration with the efforts of the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the “National Prescription Drug Take-Back” program, Somerville will celebrate “National Prescription Drug Take Back Day” on Saturday, April 27th. The focus of the National event is to raise awareness to prevent prescription drug abuse, pollution and theft. For the first time, national studies show that today’s teens are more likely to have abused a prescription painkiller than any illicit drug”
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7582787/print/1/displaymode/1098/
Residents are invited to bring your pills for disposal to one of two sites in the community. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked. This year we will also have narcan available to those who may need it. To access the narcan you will just have to participate in a brief training that will be offered on site.
This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. 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.
At each site there will be prevention information and resources. Please join us in helping to prevention prescription medicine misuse and keep our environment clean and our community members safe and healthy.
For more facts and information go to:
http://www.drugfree.org
http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/heroin
http://www.mwra.com/04water/html/pharmaceuticals.htm
http://www.epa.gov/ppcp/faq.html#regulated
For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs or about the April 27,2019 Take Back Day event, contact Patty Contente at (617) 625-6600 x 7281 or Matthew Mitchell at (617)625-6600 x 2570.
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