In an effort to help keep unwanted and expired prescription drugs off the streets and ensure they are properly disposed of, Assemblyman Al Stirpe (D-Cicero) announced April 27 is National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. Now in its sixth year, Central New York families are encouraged to dispose of their unwanted medications from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. this Saturday, at one of these locations:

• Kinney Drugs parking lot, 437 Electronics Parkway, Liverpool;
• Kinney Drugs parking lot, 7608 Oswego Road, Liverpool;
• Walgreens parking lot, 6189 Route 31, Cicero;
• Kinney Drugs, 8150 Thompson Road, Cicero;
• Kinney Drugs parking lot, 9543 Brewerton Road, Brewerton;
• Kinney Drug, 7998 Route 31 Bridgeport;
• Kinney Drugs parking lot, 5221 West Taft Road, Syracuse;
• Kinney Drugs,7065 Manlius Center, East Syracuse;
• Manlius Police Headquarters, 1 Arkie Albanese Ave., Manlius; and
• Kinney Drugs, 596 Route 11, Tully.

“By properly removing unused medications from our homes, we are taking steps to keep potentially dangerous prescription drugs out of the wrong hands,” Assemblyman Stirpe said. “Additionally, the proper disposal of medication will protect our state’s water supply because flushing medication can be toxic to our water and environment.”

Prescription drug abuse is a growing problem, especially among our youth. Research shows that 6.1 million Americans abused prescription drugs in 2011 and roughly 20,000 people die every year from prescription drug overdoses.¹ In fact, every day in the United States, an average of 2,000 teenagers use prescription drugs improperly for the first time.²

Last year, the Assembly passed a law creating the first real-time prescription-drug database in the country to crack down on prescription-drug abuse and strengthen regulations of certain controlled substances to curb improper use (Ch. 447 of 2012). The drug take-back program is just one more way for local residents to do their part to help rid our community of this dangerous problem, Assemblyman Stirpe said.

For more information, visit www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback or call Assemblyman Stirpe’s office at 452-1115.

1. www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/federal-eye/wp/2013/04/23/federal-employees-encouraged-to-participate-in-prescription-drug-take-back-day/

2. www.teens.drugabuse.gov/drug-facts/prescription-drugs