Officer Jamie Givens collects a drop-off from a local resident during drug drop-off day at Batavia PD.
Officers filled 13 boxes (about 4-feet tall, 18x18 inches square) and nine buckets of sharps.
The drugs are turned to the DEA for safe destruction.
There were also drug drop-off events today in Pembroke and Corfu.
The eighth annual National Prescription Drug Drop-Off Day is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. this Saturday, April 26.
Three dozen sites in WNY are taking part. It's the largest single day drop-off in the region.
In Genesee County, drop off locations are:
The Drug Enforcement Administration is leading this effort as part of a national campaign with the support of local police agencies and other organizations. A similar event in October collected more than four tons of unwanted and unneeded medications from residents. WNY leads the state in collections.
The purpose is to keep medications out of the hands of teens lokking to experiment and to keep our water safe. Flushing old medications contaminates the water table and eventually our drinking water.
Numerous state and national suveys show time and again that prescription pain medications are fast becoming the drug of choice among our teens, with most teens report taking the medications from someone's home. Death by accidental overdose is the number one cause of accidental death today, surpassing car accidents for the first time since 1979 when drug overdose stats started being tallied. Taken as prescribed, these medications can control severe pain. When abused, addiction can come quickly, often ending in death.
All medications -- prescription and over-the-counter -- will be accepted at all participating sites. Needles will also be accepted. For a complete list of locations visit:
WWW.DEA.GOV
WWW.MAKEACHANGENEWYORK
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