Sheriff's Office Again Participating In National Drug Drop-Off Day

Modified: October 30, 2017 4:18pm

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10/23/2017

Drug Drop off

Sheriff Hosting Collection Point for 4th Year 

Buffalo, NY – Erie County Sheriff Timothy B. Howard announces that the Erie County Sheriff’s Office will be participating in U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s Fall Prescription Drug Take-Back Day October 28 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

This Saturday, the Sheriff’s Office is providing the public another opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft with a second event this year at the Bertrand Chaffee Hospital.  Citizens can properly dispose of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs at the special collection point at the hospital.  Everyone is encouraged to bring prescription, and over the counter pills and patches, however, Sheriff Howard reminds individuals that collection points cannot accept liquids, needles, or sharps.  The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked. 

Last April Americans turned in 450 tons (900,000 pounds) of prescription drugs at almost 5,500 sites operated by the DEA and more than 4,200 of its state and local law enforcement partners.  Overall, in its thirteen previous Take Back events, DEA and its partners have taken in over 8.1 million pounds more than 4,050 tons of pills.   Since starting the pill take-back program, the Erie County Sheriff’s Office has collected and disposed of nearly 20-tons of medications at the twenty-eight drop-off kiosks throughout the county. “This program and these boxes remain our most convenient and secure method of getting rid of unwanted drugs and fighting the opiate epidemic.  My Deputies are constantly collecting and maintaining the collection boxes in an effort to dispose of the unwanted drugs,” said Sheriff Howard. 

This initiative continues to address a vital public safety and public health issue with a safe, clean and secure collection method.  Medicines that remain in home cabinets are extremely susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. remain alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs.  Strong evidence indicates that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friend’s medicine cabinets, and also, studies show flushing medications down a toilet or throwing them in the trash pose potential safety and health hazards to our water supplies. 

Erie County Sheriff’s Office Locations:

Springville

Bertrand Chaffee Hospital

224 East Main St

Springville, NY 14141

10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.