October 19, 2016

          Middletown, CT. (October 19, 2016):  Connecticut State Police participate in the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) drug take-back program.

Saturday October 22, 2016 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the Connecticut State Police and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will give the public another opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs.  Bring your medications for disposal to one of the sites listed below.  The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.

           This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue.  Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs.  Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines—flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash—both pose potential safety and health hazards.

Congress passed the Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal Act of 2010, which amends the Controlled Substances Act to allow an “ultimate user” of controlled substance medications to dispose of them by delivering them to entities authorized by the Attorney General to accept them.  The Act also allows the Attorney General to authorize long term care facilities to dispose of their residents’ controlled substances in certain instances.  Local law enforcement agencies like the Connecticut State Police and the DEA will continue to hold prescription drug take-back events every few months.

In April 2016 all of the 11 State Police Barracks across the state were equipped with a permanent drug collection drop box.  The drop boxes were made possible through a donation by CVS Pharmacy to install drop boxes at each of the barracks.  Residents can deposit unwanted, unused or expired medication, including controlled substances anytime, no questions asked.

                All state police locations are available for drop-off, however if you want to participate specifically in National Drug Take-Back Day on Saturday October 22, 2016 bring your medications to one of the following Troops for disposal:

Troop A-Southbury                                       90 Lakeside Road, Southbury
Troop B-North Canaan                                  463B Ashley Falls Road, North Canaan
Troop D-Danielson                                        55 Wescott Road, Danielson
Troop F-Westbrook                                        315 Spencer Plains Road, Westbrook
Troop I-Bethany                                             631 Amity Road, Bethany
Troop K-Colchester                                        15A Old Hartford Road, Colchester
Troop L-Litchfield                                          452A Bantam Road, Litchfield

Middlefield Resident Troopers Office           405 Main St, Middlefield

Higganum Pharmacy                                       23 Killingworth Rd, Haddam

Old Lyme Resident Troopers Office              294 Shore Rd, Old Lyme

Westbrook Resident Troopers Office             866 Boston Post Rd, Westbrook

Walgreens Store                                              1093 North Main Street, DayvilleMiddlefield Resident Troopers Office 405 Main St,Middlefield
Higganum Pharmacy 23 Killingworth Rd, Haddam
Old Lyme Resident Troopers Office 294 Shore Rd, Old Lyme
Westbrook Resident Troopers Office 866 Boston Post Rd, Westbrook
Walgreens Store 1093 North Main Street Dayville, CTMiddlefield Resident Troopers Office 405 Main St,Middlefield
Higganum Pharmacy 23 Killingworth Rd, Haddam
Old Lyme Resident Troopers Office 294 Shore Rd, Old Lyme
Westbrook Resident Troopers Office 866 Boston Post Rd, Westbrook
Walgreens Store 1093 North Main Street Dayville, CTMiddlefield Resident Troopers Office 405 Main St,Middlefield
Higganum Pharmacy 23 Killingworth Rd, Haddam
Old Lyme Resident Troopers Office 294 Shore Rd, Old Lyme
Westbrook Resident Troopers Office 866 Boston Post Rd, Westbrook
Walgreens Store 1093 North Main Street Dayville, CT

Permanent State Police drop box locations, available year-round, 24 hours a day, are as follows:

Troop A-Southbury                 90 Lakeside Road, Southbury
Troop B-North Canaan           463B Ashley Falls Road, North Canaan
Troop C-Tolland                     1320 Tolland Stage Road, Tolland
Troop D-Danielson                 55 Wescott Road, Danielson
Troop E-Montville                  I-395 North (between exits 6 & 9), Montville

Troop F-Westbrook                 315 Spencer Plains Road, Westbrook
Troop G-Bridgeport                149 Prospect Street, Bridgeport
Troop H-Hartford                   100R Washington Street, Hartford
Troop I-Bethany                     631 Amity Road, Bethany
Troop K-Colchester                15A Old Hartford Road, Colchester
Troop L-Litchfield                  452A Bantam Road, Litchfield