New York State Drug Take-Back Bill Becomes Law
https://www.productstewardship.us/news/408562/New-York-State-Drug-Take-Back-Bill-Becomes-Law.htm
Drop ‘Em in the Box!
Rush-Henrietta Senior High school civics classes, in cooperation with the Rush and Henrietta Health and Safety Coalition and Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, participated in an important drug addiction prevention project. A group of volunteer students have been working to publicize a new local drop box for unused and outdated prescription and non-prescription drugs. The drop box is located at the sheriff’s office substation, located at 245 Summit Point Drive, Henrietta.
Most people know that heroin use is on the rise. In 2014, 47,000 Americans fatally overdosed on heroin. That’s a 7 percent increase as compared with 2013. What people may not know is that four out of five heroin addicts begin with the abuse of prescription opiate drugs. Powerful pain killing drugs like OxyContin and Vicodin are getting into the hands of young people. Many of them state that they were able to take these drugs from the unsecured medicine cabinet of their parents or grandparents.
This is why the safe disposal of all unused, outdated medication is so important. In 2015, there were 84 deaths due to opiate overdose in Monroe County. Some of these occurred in the Rush and Henrietta areas. The Monroe County Sheriff’s office in Henrietta, under the leadership of Captain Jeffrey Wagner, has installed a permanent drop box for unused, outdated prescription drugs. Rush-Henrietta residents are encouraged to participate in this prevention effort by regularly disposing their unused, outdated prescription drugs in a safe, environmentally friendly way. The box is located inside the sheriff’s office and can be accessed from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday. Watch this informative video right now!
Accepted items: Prescription and non-prescription pills, the bottles, patches, pet medications and vitamins.
Not accepted: Needles, inhalers, liquids, thermometers, hydrogen peroxide or aerosol cans.
Captain Wagner has stated that he is “pleased to partner with the students of Rush-Henrietta Central School District in this effort.” The Rush and Henrietta Community Health and Safety Coalition also has been working with the students on this project, inviting them to participate in monthly meetings. Drug Prevention Counselor, Paul Swiatek, met weekly with students from the civics classes of Ms. Marissa Privitere, Mr. Steve Shepanski and Mr. Ted Sargent. Students Sara Cocca, Morgan Smith, Chayla Barrett, Maurissa DeGaugh, Mohamed Abdi, Rosaline DiFilippo, Emily Gross and Julia Flass worked together on this project.