By Kathy Kurtz Ferrari
Staff Writer
5/12/11
The combined efforts of the Police Department, the Board of Health, and other local and state organizations helped take some potentially dangerous drugs off the streets.

A medicine-and-sharps disposal day was held April 30 in the parking lot of the Police Department, where residents turned in more than 150 pounds of unused prescription and over-the-counter medications, including pet medications, vitamins, ointments, inhalers, and medical patches. Syringes and needles were also collected.

Board of Health personnel including Director Michael Blanchard and Public Health Nurse Caroline Kinsella were present to answer any questions from those dropping off medications. Representing the Police Department were School Resource Officer Maria Martin and Officer Matt Mercer.

People were allowed to drop off medications with no questions asked but were asked to fill out a brief, anonymous survey.

This was the first year the turn-in program was held in Milton. The Drug Enforcement Administration sponsored the first national effort, called the National Take Back Initiative, last September. According to the DEA, more than 121 tons of pills were turned in during that event nationwide.

“This opportunity is great if you have medicines in your cabinet that you don’t need. You can get it away from the kids,” Kinsella said.

Law enforcement authorities say prescription drugs often end up in the wrong hands after they are taken from a home medicine cabinet. Teenagers can be tempted when they find drugs like oxycodone – a drug with high street value – at home. The program offered a safe place for disposal of those and other drugs.

Martin said the program was publicized widely at both Pierce Middle School and Milton High School. However, the initiative attracted residents across all age ranges.

“We’ve had everything from someone turning in one bottle, to a whole shopping bag full,” said Mercer.

A kiosk for 24-hour-a-day medicine drop-off has been placed in the lobby of the police station, which is located at 40 Highland St. The drug disposal day was a kick-off for that initiative.

Blanchard said medications collected during the disposal day were brought by the Police Department to the local DEA for incineration.