Copyright 2015 linkinglewiscounty.com  all rights reserved       privacy policy here
200 Pounds of Unwanted Prescription Drugs Collected
in Lewis County During National Drug Take Back Day Event

May 09, 2019   06:00 p.m.
Shop for 2016 NFL Drafted Player Jerseys at NFLShop.com
Subscribe to our
YouTube Channel
    Press Release:

    Lewis County National Take Back Drug Day Event

    Lewis County, NY – On Saturday, April 27, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Lewis
    County Sheriff’s Office, the UP! Coalition, and the U.S. Drug Enforcement
    Administration gave the public its 17th opportunity in nine years to prevent pill
    abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused,
    and unwanted prescription drugs.  Local residents had the opportunity to bring
    their pills for disposal to two sites during this event, at the Lewis County General
    Hospital lobby in Lowville and the Falls Pharmacy in Lyons Falls. The service is
    free and anonymous, no questions asked.

    The DEA reported there were 4,969 local law enforcement participants
    throughout the nation, including 2 officers in Lewis County, making up 6,258
    collection sites, including the 2 in Lewis County. Throughout the nation 937,443
    lbs of medications were collected through the nation, with 42,565 lbs collected in
    New York State (that is over 5 African Elephants!). The two drop off sites in
    Lewis County collected about 200 pounds (or 8 boxes full) to help in this
    important event.

    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.  The
    Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Survey
    on Drug Use and Health shows year after year that the majority of misused and
    abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including
    someone else’s medication being stolen 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.   

    For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs or about the April
    27 Take Back Day event, go to www.DEATakeBack. The Next DEA drug take
    back day is schedule for October 2019; however, local Lewis County residents
    can drop medication at ANY time at the following locations:  the Falls Pharmacy
    in Lyons Falls, the Bonaparte Pharmacy in Harrisville, Kinney Drugs in Lowville,
    and the Lewis County General Hospital in Lowville.

    The UP! Coalition would like to thank Officers Richard Knight and Dale Roberts
    of the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office, Anne Huntress the Mayor of Lyons Falls,
    Diane Loftus head pharmacist at LCGH, and the staffs and pharmacists of the
    Falls Pharmacy for all their hard work and dedication in planning and holding this
    important event. The mission of the United Prevention Coalition of Lewis County
    is to reduce the use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs in Lewis County youth
    by collaborating with our community to empower residents to make educated
    decisions about living a healthy lifestyle.
**PAID POLITICAL ADVERTISEMENT**
**Paid Political Advertisement**