Press Release: Prescription Drug "Take-Back"

Chief Daniel C. O'Leary is pleased to announce that the Brookline Police Department is partnering with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in a second nationwide prescription drug ''Take-Back'' initiative that seeks to prevent increased pill abuse and theft by collecting unused, unneeded, or expired prescription drugs.

This national event will take place on Saturday, April 30, 2011, 10 am until 2 pm at the Brookline Public Safety Building, 350 Washington Street, Brookline. Members of the Brookline Police Department and the DEA will be at the prescription drug collection site location.

The DEA, in conjunction with state and local law enforcement agencies throughout the United States, conducted the first ever National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, September 25, 2010. This effort was a huge success in removing potentially dangerous prescription drugs, particularly controlled substances, from our nation's medicine cabinets. There were approximately 3,000 state and local law enforcement agencies throughout the nation that participated in the event. All told, the American Public turned in more than 121 tons of pills on this first National Take Back Day.

The National Take Back Initiative Day will provide a unified opportunity for the public to surrender expired, unwanted, or unused pharmaceutical substances and other medications to law enforcement officers for destruction since these substances in homes are a potential source that fuels drug abuse and are a risk to public health and safety. Everyone is encouraged to support the initiative and participate with the Brookline Police Department and the Town of Brookline Department of Public Works in hosting this effort. Clean out those medicine cabinets. Controlled, non-controlled, and over-the-counter substances may be collected. No questions or requests for identification will be made. Participants may dispose of medication in its original container. All solid dosage pharmaceutical product and liquids in consumer containers will also be accepted. Liquid products, such as cough syrup, should remain sealed in their original container. Intra-venous solutions, injectibles, and syringes will not be accepted due to potential hazard posed by blood-borne pathogens.

Prescription drug abuse in the United States is increasing at an alarming rate. A majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, many do not know how to properly dispose their unused medicines, often discarding them in the trash or flushing them down the toilet-both potential safety and health hazards. This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue.
For more information about this initiative, call the Brookline Police Department at 617-730-2254or visit http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takebacklindex.html. Directions to the Brookline Public Safety Building can be found on this site under "Collection Sites" as well as information on items that will NOT be accepted.


Public Safety Headquarters 350 Washington Street, Brookline, Massachusetts 02445
Telephone (617) 730-2249 .) Facsimile (617) 730-8454