Residents will be able to bring medications to three locations at CVS drug stores in New City, Bardonia and Garnerville where police will be on hand to take the substances and dispose of them in an environmentally safe way.
The event is part of National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, in which communities throughout the country dispose of medications safely.
"This is an easy way to get rid of medications you no longer need so that they don't fall into the wrong hands," Rockland County Executive Ed Day said. "Disposing of medications you no longer need by handing them over to the proper authorities also protects the environment by keeping prescription drugs out of our water."
The hours to dispose of the drugs is from 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday at:
- CVS, 280 South Main Street, New City
- CVS, 330 Route 304, Bardonia,
- CVS, 12 West Ramapo Road, Garnerville
The DEA cannot accept liquids, needles or sharps, only pills or patches. This service is free and anonymous. No questions will be asked.
During the first Rockland Prescription Drug Take Back Day, Clarkstown police said they collected more medications in four hours than they did during the entire year.
Last year, Americans turned in 309 tons of prescription drugs at nearly 5,500 sites operated by the DEA during National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.
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