Stonington — Over the past nine months, residents here have discarded 140 pounds of unused medications, some of them prescription narcotics, in a locked drop box in the police department lobby. 

Human Services Director Leanne Theodore and town officials pointed out at Wednesday’s Board of Selectmen meeting that the drop box has become even more important with the recent spate of heroin overdoses and deaths in the region.

Theodore said there is a big push for people to clear out their medicine cabinets of unused medications so they are not taken by people visiting their homes.

Selectman Mike Spellman, who is a Groton City police officer, pointed out that these opioid pain medications, initially prescribed by doctors, are often a gateway to heroin, when the prescriptions expire.

“Often these legal drugs can harm you as much as illegal drugs,” he said, describing how crushing and snorting a prescribed Oxycontin pill can lead to an overdose because of the time-release nature of the drug.

Police have to often empty the large box, according to Capt. Todd Olson, because so many people are disposing of medications. The police department takes the medications to the Preston incinerator.

“How many of us have unused medications and wonder what we should do with it?” said Selectwoman Kate Rotella. “We’re not supposed to flush it down the toilet or throw it out in the trash.”

Theodore said her department also has distributed an information sheet to police officers and first responders that lists agencies that provide 24-hour-a-day services for people they encounter with substance abuse problems.

In addition, she said a community forum will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Feb. 18 at the high school to discuss substance abuse issues.

Speakers will include people in recovery, parents who have lost children to substance abuse problems and representatives of agencies that offer different types of treatment options.

j.wojtas@theday.com

Twitter: @joewojtas