Stoneham Police Collect More
than 160 Pounds of Drugs
During Take Back Day
STONEHAM POLICE DEPARTMENT
Chief James McIntyre
47 Central Street
Stoneham, MA 02180-2044
For Immediate Release
Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2016
Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 781-533-9398
Email: [email protected]
Stoneham Police Collect More
than 160 Pounds of Drugs
During Take Back Day
STONEHAM — Chief James McIntyre is pleased to announce that
the Stoneham Police Department turned in 166 pounds of expired
and unused medications to the Drug Enforcement Administration
(DEA) for proper disposal last month.
Residents turned in their drugs on Oct. 22, during National
Drug Take Back Day, and through the department’s collection
kiosk in the station’s lobby.
“It’s great that so many people continuously come out to
properly dispose of their unwanted or unused prescription
drugs, as we know that easily accessible medications are often
abused or misused,” Chief McIntyre said. “This is just one of
the ways that we as a police department can address the
nation’s opioid epidemic, and we will continue to work with
the DEA to remove these potentially dangerous drugs from homes
in town.”
National Drug Take Back Day is a free and anonymous event
coordinated by the DEA and police departments. The designated
day gives the public an opportunity to prevent substance abuse
by disposing of potentially dangerous expired, unused, or
unwanted prescription drugs in their possession. The DEA
accepted pills and patches but does not take liquids, needles,
or sharps.
Last April, during its 11th Take Back Day, the DEA, and more
than 4,200 of its national, tribal and community law
enforcement partners, collected 893,498 pounds (about 447
tons) of unwanted prescription drugs at almost 5,400
collection sites. Over the life of the program, 7.1 million
pounds (more than 3,500 tons) of prescription drugs have been
removed from medicine cabinets, kitchen drawers, and
nightstands by citizens around the country.
Residents who missed the National Drug Take Back Day can also
drop off their prescription drugs at the Stoneham Police
Department’s MedReturn kiosk, which is available 24 hours a
day, seven days a week.
For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs,
visit the DEA Office of Diversion Control website, or contact
the Stoneham Police Department at 781-438-1215.
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