More than 10 places participating in drug take-back day
Multiple state police barracks will be among the many locations where residents can drop off unwanted prescription medications from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.
During the four-hour time slot — part of a nationwide effort run by the Drug Enforcement Administration — police will staff everything from senior centers to high schools so residents can get rid of medications that are expired or that they no longer need.
The event’s goal is not only to reduce drug diversion, misuse and abuse, but also to ensure drugs are safely incinerated rather than flushed down the toilet or thrown in the trash.
In Connecticut last year, 729 people died of overdoses, with opioid use contributing to a vast majority of the deaths. That number is expected to be closer to 888 this year.
Many who become addicted later admit to having taken medication from friends' and family members' medicine cabinets early on.
Local locations that will be staffed Saturday include:
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[naviga:li]Troop F – Westbrook, 315 Spencer Plains Road[/naviga:li]
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Lyme Street Firehouse, 69 Lyme St.[/naviga:li][naviga:li]East Lyme Police Department, 278 Main St.[/naviga:li][naviga:li]Norwich Free Academy Healthy Living Event, 305 Broadway[/naviga:li][naviga:li]Norwich Police Headquarters, 70 Thames St.[/naviga:li][naviga:li]Jewett City Resident State Trooper's Office, 39 Wedgewood Drive[/naviga:li][naviga:li]Troop K – Colchester, 15A Old Hartford Road[/naviga:li][naviga:li]
New London Police Department, 5 Governor Winthrop Boulevard[/naviga:li][naviga:li]Groton Senior Center parking lot, 102 Newtown Road[/naviga:li][naviga:li]Stonington Police Department, 173 S. Broad St.[/naviga:li][naviga:li]
Westerly Hospital, 25 Wells St.[/naviga:li][naviga:li]Westerly Police Department, 60 Airport Road[/naviga:li][/naviga:ul]
Residents also can visit most police stations and all state police barracks at any time to drop their medications in drop boxes typically located in the lobby.
Both drug take-back methods are free and anonymous.
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