Local medication disposal program announced

Sept. 22, 2016 | G. Michael Dobbs
news@thereminder.com

Hampden County District Attorney Anthony Gulluni and Sheriff Michael Ashe announced the expansion of the drug disposal program on Sept. 20.
Reminder Publications photo by G. Michael Dobbs

SPRINGFIELD – Hampden County residents will now have expanded options for the safe disposal of unnecessary or outdated prescription and over-the counter medications.

District Attorney Anthony Gulluni and Sheriff Michael Ashe announced on Sept. 20 that East Longmeadow, Palmer and Wilbraham as well as the Hampden County House of Correction in Ludlow and the Western Massachusetts Regionals Women’s Correctional Center will join the program that already has been adopted by the police departments in Chicopee, Agawam, Hampden, Longmeadow, Monson, Westfield and Southwick.

Springfield and Holyoke are not participating in the program at this time and Gulluni declined to explain why. He added that anyone in the county could go to any site with his or her medications.

The program is simple, Gulluni explained.  Collection boxes are located in secured locations at the participating police departments. People simply place unwanted drugs in the slot of the box. When the box if full, representatives of the Sheriff’s Department come by and transport the drugs to Covanta Energy in Agawam that safely incinerates them.

Any prescription, over-the-counter medication, vitamins or veterinary medications are accepted. Needles and others sharps, liquid medication, IV equipment and chemotherapy drugs are not accepted.

Gulluni noted that 80 percent of heroin users begin their addiction by abusing prescription painkillers.

“We’re really getting in front of addiction with this effort,” he said.

He added, “Medicine cabinets have become breeding grounds for addiction.”

The district attorney noted, “Without the leadership of the chiefs of police this  [effort] would not be possible.”

The boxes were purchased through the Springfield Department of Health and Human Services, he explained.

Chicopee Police Chief William Jebb said that city began participating in the program in June and said the collection box has been full nearly every week.

“It’s a great initiative,” Jebb said.

Ashe said picking up the drugs from the collection boxes would not incur any additional expenses.

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