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Ossining Police Gather Up Expired Prescription Drugs For Safe Disposal

OSSINING, N.Y. -- Ossining police said they collected four large boxes of unused pills and other medication Saturday as part of a National Prescription Drug Take-back Day.

The Ossining Police Department, which took part in the National Prescription Drug Take Back Day this past weekend, maintains a box in the lobby of the police and court facility where expired medications can be safely left.

The Ossining Police Department, which took part in the National Prescription Drug Take Back Day this past weekend, maintains a box in the lobby of the police and court facility where expired medications can be safely left.

Photo Credit: Ossining Police Department

The federal Drug Enforcement Administration’s countrywide effort aims to keep opioids, and other dangerous drugs, from falling into the wrong hands, and from ending up in the water supply.

According to the website, takemedsseriously.org, there are 4 billion prescriptions filled in the United States every year, and about a third of them go unused. That's about 200 million pounds of pills and other medications that wind up in the trash or down the drain, it said.

Flushing drugs, even harmless ones, is not good for the fishes, and tossing them in the trash is not good for the raccoons or family pets that might get eat them, Ossining police said.

The police department also maintains a collection box in the lobby of the Birdsall-Fagan Police & Court Facility at 86-88 Spring St.

Expired medications can be deposited there “24/7,” police said.

The only things they will not take are: thermometers, hydrogen peroxide, inhalers, aerosol cans, ointments, lotions or liquids, medication from businesses or clinics, or needles (sharps)

The department plans to hold another take-back day soon, police said.

To read more about prescription drug safety, click here.

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