Officers collecting unused medications this weekend
Staff photo/Kathy McCarty
DRUG TAKE-BACK DAY — On Saturday, April 30, law enforcement offices across the state will be collecting unused and unwanted medications as part of Drug Take-Back Day, in an effort to prevent such items from getting into the wrong hands.
The Presque Isle Police Department will be taking part in the event, disposing of any type of medication — liquid or pill. The PIPD, located on North Street, accepts unwanted medications 24/7, 365 days a year. Last year the department collected over 400 pounds from citizens wishing to keep their discarded pills and more out of the water system, the landfill and prevent them from getting into criminals’ hands. Sgt. Mark Barnes, pictured here during last year’s collection, is shown dumping a bottle of pills into one of the many boxes collected last fall.
Aroostook County Sheriff’s Deputies are teaming up with area health care facilities to collect unused and unwanted prescription medications as part of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s second national prescription drug take back initiative Saturday, April 30. Many local police departments in the County and Troop F of the State Police are also participating.
As the Sheriff’s Office and state police provide police protection for the County’s unorganized townships and towns that do not have their own police departments, Sheriff James Madore chose to select three locations in Aroostook County where people from these areas could easily come to drop off their unwanted or expired drugs.
Deputies will be stationed at the Katahdin Valley Health Center, on Route 159 just off I-95 in Island Falls, at The Aroostook Medical Center’s Clinic at 106 Main St. in Mars Hill and will partner with the Madawaska Police Department and Northern Maine Medical Center at NMMC’s booth at the Top of Maine Trade Fair at the Multi Purpose Center at 160 7th Ave. in Madawaska.
Additional locations include, the Houlton Police Department, 97 Military St. in Houlton; Presque Isle Police Department, 43 North St., Presque Isle; Fort Fairfield Police Department, 18 Community Drive; Washburn Police Department, 1287 Main St., Washburn; and the Ashland Police Department, 17 Bridgham St., Ashland.
For more information, a full list of collection sites and to determine which site is closest to you, go to www.dea.gov and click on the link for the take back program.
If you have any prescription drugs in your home or if you know your relatives have them, bring them to one of these locations on Saturday, April 30, 2011 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 P.M.
Prescription drug abuse negatively affects far too many Aroostook County families every day. This initiative will help reduce availability and the Sheriff’s Department is pleased to be a part of it.
