Fall 2024 Take Back Event at STOP Day
Date: Saturday October 26
Time: 8:00am-2:00pm
Location: Town of Riverhead Highway Yard, 1177 Osborn Ave., Riverhead
The Riverhead Community Coalition for Safe and Drug-Free Youth is hosting its Fall 2024 Take Back Event on Saturday, October 26th. Community members can safely dispose of their expired, unwanted, and unused medication at this event. The medication take back is in conjunction with Riverhead Town’s STOP Day (Stop Throwing Out Pollutants).
The Riverhead Police Department will accept medication at the Town Highway Yard, 1177 Osborn Ave., from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM. All medication will be accepted as long as it is properly sealed.
“To date, we’ve collected almost 13,000 pounds of medication,” said Isabella Marcucci, coordinator of the Riverhead Coalition. “This was accomplished through the combination of take back events and the permanent drop box.”
According to Marcucci, a medication drop box was installed in the lobby of the Riverhead Police Department in August 2014. The drop box at 210 Howell Avenue allows residents to safely and conveniently dispose of medication 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
DETERRA DRUG DEACTIVATION KITS and Free Narcan Training
In addition to other giveaways, participants will also receive free Deterra Drug Deactivation kits. The kits are scientifically tested and environmentally sound. They safely destroy prescription and over-the-counter pills, patches, liquids, creams, and films.
“These kits are helpful for safely disposing of medication when people cannot make it to the drop box or a take back event,” said Marcucci.
Free Safe Rx locking pill vials will also be available. PBMC Northwell Health staff will also be providing Narcan training from 10 AM – 2 PM. This free training is available for community members aged 16 and older.
PREVENTING PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), prescription drug abuse is the fastest growing drug problem in the United States, especially among teens. The CDC reports that one in five teens say they have taken prescription drugs without a doctor’s prescription and each day more than 2,000 teens use prescription drugs to get high for the first time. In addition, data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) states that nearly one-third of people aged 12 and over who used drugs for the first time began by using a prescription drug for non-medical purposes.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) also found that nearly half of young people who inject heroin reported abusing prescription painkillers before starting to use heroin. Some individuals reported taking up heroin because it is cheaper and easier to obtain than prescription drugs. In addition, more people die from prescription drug overdoses than from all illegal drugs combined. Drug overdoses are now the leading cause of accidental death in the U.S., outnumbering highway traffic fatalities.
For more information about the Fall 2024 Take Back Event or medication disposal, contact Isabella Marcucci at (631) 727-3722 ext. 106, or Isabella.Marcucci@RiverheadCAP.org.
Additional Information
Community members can also dispose of household chemicals and electronics during STOP Day. However, this area of the event is open to Riverhead residents only. For more information, contact the Town of Riverhead at 631-727-3200 ext. 391 or visit TownofRiverheadNY.gov.
