Liberty, NY – The Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention Task Force, a subcommittee of the Rural Health Network led by Sullivan County Public Health Services, is again partnering with local law enforcement agencies and Catholic Charities of Orange/Sullivan on another Drug Take Back Day to be held Saturday, July 21 at area police departments and also at two additional locations: Jeff Pharmacy in Jeffersonville and Bethel Senior Center in Kauneonga Lake.
The participating Fallsburg, Liberty and Monticello police stations are open 24/7, while the pharmacy and Senior Center locations will take the drugs between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Saturday – no questions asked. A fourth dropoff location is available throughout the year at the County’s Department of Family Services (Robert Travis Building) in Liberty from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays.
“Over 3,000 pounds of unwanted prescription medications have been collected over the past five years as a result of local Take Back Days and the 24/7 availability of Drug Drop Boxes placed throughout the County,” explained District 2 Legislator Nadia Rajsz, chair of the Legislature’s Health & Family Services Committee.
“Take Back Days continue to be a successful local public health initiative based on the collaborative efforts of many agencies working together to combat drug abuse and to ensure our communities are safe through appropriate disposal of unwanted drugs and medications,” noted Public Health Director Nancy McGraw. “We have not only made an impact on reducing the likelihood of prescription drugs falling into the wrong hands and being abused or sold on the streets but have improved access for residents for safe disposal sites. The environment is also being protected because people are not flushing them or throwing them in the garbage, which ends up in a landfill.”
These medications are safely disposed through a partnership with the Sheriff’s Office on County-sponsored Take Back Days. Deputies transport the medications for no-cost incineration to the Dutchess County Resource Recovery Facility. The filter on the facility is designed to prevent contaminants from becoming airborne.
For more information, please call Sullivan County Public Health Services at 845-292-5910, ext. 2222.