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Drug Take-Back Scheduled Nationwide - and Here in Bridgeport - Oct. 28

By Julie Perine on October 11, 2017 via Connect-Bridgeport.com

In accordance with the U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration, Drug Take-Back events will take place nationwide Oct. 28 to collect unused and/or expired pharmaceuticals. Bridgeport Police Department is once again on board with the national initiative, providing a way of disposing of unused prescriptions - conttrolled and non-controlled substances - between 10 a.m and 2 p.m. 
 
A uniformed officer will be on site with a take-back box, in which individuals can drop containers or empty loose pills.  For non-liquid medications, the medication should be removed from its container. Blister packages are acceptable without removing medications. Liquids, creams and sprays must be in original packaging. Over-the-counter medication, ointments and patches can be brought, as can be non-aerosol sprays, creams, vials and pet medications. 
 
The method of disposal is much preferred over tossing the medications in the trash or flushing them – or keeping them in cabinets, Police Chief John Walker said. 

“Drugs can contaminate our water supply and keeping hard narcotics in your home encourages break-ins and, of course, they can end up in the wrong hands, including those of children,” he said.
 
As is customary for drug take-back collections, DEA representatives will pick up the drugs and dispose of them properly.
 
Bridgeport PD participates in the drug pick-ups a couple times per year, in the spring and in the fall. All of the events have been successful, Walker said.
 
The first National Prescription Take Back Day was held in September of 2010. Shortly thereafter, U.S. Congress approved legislation amending the Controlled Substances Act, providing the DEA with the option of developing a permanent process for safe and convenient disposal of prescription drugs.
 
On a national level, the April 29 take-back drive resulted in 900,386 pounds of unwanted medication collected at 5,498 take-back sites.
 
Bridgeport Police Department stresses that this event is for disposing of medications only. Personal care products and hazardous household products such as paint and pesticides cannot be disposed of at this event. Also not permitted are illegal drugs, needles/sharps, inhalers, aerosol cans, bio-hazardous materials or mercury thermometers. 


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