Prescription Drug Disposal Day: April 30

National Prescription Drug Take Back Day was first held in September 2010 with an overwhelming positive response from the national public. A second date has been set for this coming Saturday, April 30 with one of the drop off locations being the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Police parking lot from 8:30 am until 3:00 pm.

“This initiative addresses an issue that our investigative unit works on in their daily workload jointly with AMPS and other outside agencies. Recently this work has led up to arrests,” said Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Chief of Police Andy Thomas. “The cooperation can only improve from here, with community input really impacting the results of this work.”

More than seven million Americans currently abuse prescription drugs, according to the 2009 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Each day, approximately, 2,500 teens use prescription drugs to get high for the first time according to the Partnership for a Drug Free America. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including the home medicine cabinet.

This initiative is open to the entire territory of Akwesasne along with the neighboring municipalities. “This program is totally anonymous and our officers will not ask any questions about the medication being disposed of,” said Thomas. “We just want to make sure that these medications are being disposed of properly.”

The importance of properly disposing of potentially dangerous, expired, unused or unwanted prescription drugs is two-fold. This initiative relates to the community anti-drug campaigns currently being organized as well as ensuring that these chemicals stay out of the environment. Flushing these medications or simply throwing them into the trash to end up in landfills only contaminates already at-risk areas.

“Whatever other information community members wish to discuss with our officers that day will remain anonymous,” said Thomas. For more information on this program contact Detective Sgt. Matthew Rourke at 518-358-9200.