(WNY News Now) – Dunkirk, NY – The City of Dunkirk Police Department, in collaboration with WCA ALSTAR Ambulance and the DEA, will facilitate a prescription drug drop-off event on Saturday, April 27, 2024, from 10 AM to 2 PM.
WCA ALSTAR Services has again graciously provided their North
Headquarters for the drive in drop off location. ALSTAR North is located
behind School # 3 at Rt. 60 and Orchard Street in the City of Dunkirk. The
prescriptions can be dropped off with no questions asked.
This is a very important program because any unused or expired
prescription medications are a public safety issues leading to accidental
poisoning, overdose and abuse. In many States deaths from Prescription
drugs now exceeds those from motor vehicles accidents with opiate
painkillers like Vicodin, Percocet and Oxycontin leading abuse. Recent
reports show that the number of people seeking treatment for painkiller
addiction had increased 400 % within the last 10 years. Reports show that
one in 10 12 th grade students used pharmaceutical narcotic pain killers for
non medical use. The reports also show that the majority of the teenagers
(62%) using prescription drugs got them from family and friends including
from medicine cabinets in their own homes. Unintentional overdose deaths
from prescription opiods increased 175% over a 5 year period. Recent
reports note that there were 6.2 Million Americans aged 12 years and older
who abused prescription drugs within the past month with 7 of the 10 most
commonly abused drugs by teenagers being prescription medicine.
Proper disposal of unused or expired prescription drugs can eliminate
temptation for abuse and the temptation for them to be stolen from a
residence. The proper disposal also does not affect the environment which
can happen if they are flushed into the sewer systems. Most importantly
proper disposal can help lower the deaths rate related to overdose and
abuse, especially in our children and young adults.
Please take the time to empty your shelves and cabinets from unused and
expired prescription drugs and bring them to the drop off point at
ALSTAR Ambulance behind School # 3 at Rt. 60 and Orchard Street in
Dunkirk on Saturday April 27 th from 10AM-2PM. Also we ask that if you
have parents or grandparents that you check with them as well to make
sure they sort through any prescriptions they may have that are not needed
or have expired. Again this will be a drive in and drop off with no
questions asked.
Please remember no Liquids or Sharps/Needles at the drop off location.
Also remember that Liquids or Sharps/Needles cannot be put in our Drop
Box at the Police Station either. These items cannot be disposed of with
other prescriptions medications and they are a danger to our Officers who
have to handle them and empty the drop box.
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