WILMINGTON, Mass. \u2014 Saturday is National Drug Take Back Day, and the Wilmington Police Department is doing its part to keep the community safe.<\/p>\n
Drug Take Back Day allows residents to properly dispose of unused or expired medications to participating police departments, in an effort to keep them out of the wrong hands.<\/p>\n
Wilmington police participate in the event twice a year.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have people drop off vitamins, all the way up to oxycontin,\u201d said Wilmington police Lt. Matthew Stavro. \u201cEverything in between.\u201d<\/p>\n
From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., residents dropped off prescription drugs that would otherwise be sitting in their medicine cabinets. The goal is to prevent misuse and keep drugs off the streets, while also helping the environment.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of people when they get started taking illegal drugs, they end up starting with prescription drugs they found in the house maybe from a grandparent or parents,\u201d said Stavro.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t want people flushing them down the toilet because now you have environmental issues with these medications going in the water system,\u201d explained Stavro.<\/p>\n
The environment is exactly why one resident tells us she participated. <\/p>\n
\u201cSafe disposal, make sure things aren\u2019t getting in the landfills and the environment where they shouldn\u2019t be,\u201d said Wilmington resident Lavern Forrest.<\/p>\n
After the drugs are collected, Stavro said they\u2019re transported and incinerated under the DEA\u2019s control. <\/p>\n
Back in April, nearly 122 pounds of medications were dropped off at the Wilmington Police Department. Over 20,000 pounds of medications were collected statewide. <\/p>\n
\u201cGet them out of the house where they can\u2019t accidentally get into someone\u2019s hands or someone comes in and takes them,\u201d said Stavro.<\/p>\n
You can find a full list of National Drug Take Back Day locations in Massachusetts on the DEA\u2019s website.<\/a><\/p>\n If you were not able to make it to your local police department Saturday, some departments have syringe and medication disposal bins located in the lobby 24\/7, including the Wilmington Police Department. <\/p>\n This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. <\/p>\n Download the FREE Boston 25 News app<\/a> for breaking news alerts.<\/p>\n Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook<\/a> and Twitter<\/a>. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW<\/a><\/p>\n \u00a92026 Cox Media Group<\/p>\n