National Prescription Drug Take Back Day returns this weekend

By Ed Pierce

The 23rd National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is set for this Saturday and members of the Windham Police Department are ready to collect unwanted and unused or expired prescription medications from anybody wishing to get rid of them.

Unused, expired or unwanted prescription medications will
be collected from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on National Prescription
Drug Take Back day on Saturday, Oct. 29 at the Windham
Public Safety Building, 375 Gray Road, Windham.
COURTESY PHOTO

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29, anyone can drop off unwanted medications at the Windham Public Safety Building as part of the initiative. The Drug Enforcement Administration launched National Prescription Drug Take Back Day in 2010 as an opportunity to provide a simple and anonymous way for anyone looking to properly dispose of medications that are highly susceptible to misuse or abuse.

The detrimental impacts of prescription misuse makes it even more vital to remove unused medications from homes, where they can easily find their way into the wrong hands.

“Unused prescription drugs that collect in our homes can accidentally fall into the wrong hands, creating unintended gateways to opioid addiction,” said Maine Senators Susan Collins and Angus King in a joint statement. “Maine is one of the top 10 states disposing prescription drugs through the DEA’s Drug Take-Back Program, and we are confident that our state will continue to lead efforts to stop the misuse of unused drugs that pose a serious threat to our children, our homes, and our environment.”

Collins and King say that National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day aims to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the public about the potential for abuse of medications. Since 2020, collection sites, including in Windham began accepting vaping devices and associated substances.

Last year across the U.S., more than 721,000 pounds of unused, expired, or unwanted drugs were safely collected across the country, including over 525,000 pounds of medication in Maine alone.

According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, over 16 million Americans misused prescription medications in the past year with many obtained from family and friends, often in the home medicine cabinet. The prevalence of misuse was highest among young adults ages 18- to 25-years- old.

The detrimental impacts of prescription misuse make it even more vital for Windham residents to remove unused medications from the community.

The Windham Police Department encourages residents to take advantage of this opportunity to help prevent drug misuse and improve the health and safety of our communities.

If you are unable to bring unwanted medications to the Windham Public Safety Building on National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, residents are welcome to use the safe and secure permanent drop-off collection location in the lobby of the Public Safety Building from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.

The Windham Police Association, Windham Rescue Association and Walgreens Pharmacy have partnered with the Windham Police Department to establish a permanent MedReturn drug collection receptacle in the Public Safety Building lobby.

During nights, weekends, and holidays, please contact the Police Department at 207- 892-2525 and request to meet an officer at the Public Safety Building. The officer can assist in accessing the lobby for drop-off of unwanted medications when the lobby doors are locked. <