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CVS stores in New City, Bardonia and Garnerville are slated to be collection points, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday for prescription pills and patches. It is part of National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, a DEA effort to collected unused drugs nationwide.
Haverstraw and Clarkstown police are participating this year and will be on hand at collection points to take drugs for disposal in an environmentally safe way, officials said. Only pills and patches will be accepted -- no liquids, needles or sharps.
The service is free and anonymous. No questions will be asked, officials said.
Here are the locations:
- CVS, 280 S. Main St., New City.
- CVS, 330 Route 304, Bardonia.
- CVS, 12 W. Ramapo Road, Garnerville.
"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."
County officials say research shows that a majority of abused prescription drugs are taken from family and friends. Flushing unneeded drugs down the toilet poses health risks by contaminating the water supply, officials said.
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.
For more details, visit the DEA website.
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