Full Notification

On Saturday, April 26, 2014, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., the Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department, in conjunction with The Council on Addiction, Prevention and Education of Dutchess County (CAPE) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), will give the public an opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous, expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs. Bring your medications for disposal to the Poughkeepsie Galleria Mall, 2001 South Road, 2nd Floor, in front of Best Buy. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.

This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines-flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash-both pose potential safety and health hazards.

For more information on this event, you can contact CAPE at 845-765-8301.