Medication Take Back Day - Cold Spring

The Putnam County Communities That Care Coalition, the Putnam County Health Department, and Putnam County Sheriff’s Department, will be holding a Medication Take Back Event at American Legion George A. Casey Post 275, Cedar Street, Cold Spring, NY 10516.

The disposal hours are between 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Signage will be posted leading to the disposal area. Individuals can dispose of prescription medication, over the counter medication, and pet medication. Syringes, lancets and sharps of any kind will NOT be accepted. Please keep all medications in their original packaging and remove personal patient information.  Here are some steps you can take to prevent the misuse of prescription and over the counter medicine:

·         Take inventory of your prescription and over-the-counter medicine.

·         Lock your medicine chest.

·         Dispose of your unused, unwanted, and expired medicine in your home or at a proper disposal site

·         Take your medicine(s) exactly as prescribed.

·         Talk to your children about the dangers of prescription drug abuse.

The most recent National Survey on Drug Use and Health shows prescription medicines to be the most abused drugs by Americans, other than marijuana and found that 70% of people who abuse prescription pain relievers say they got them from friends or relatives. A recent study on drug use by of teens by the Partnership for a Drug Free America (PDFA) found that one in 9 children are abusing prescription pain relievers to get high.

The success of this initiative is a community effort that has been effective in not only protecting our youth, but our environment. Each day we see evidence of the toll prescription drug abuse has on our community.  By participating in the Medication Take Back initiative, Putnam County residents are given the opportunity to ensure safety for themselves and those around them.

There will also be a Medication Take Back Day on November 2nd from 9AM-2PM at Putnam Hospital Center.  For more information, please call Mary Rice of the Putnam County Health Department at (845) 808- 1390 ext. 43164 or Elaine Santos of the Putnam County Communities That Care Coalition at (845) 225-4646 ext. 13.

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