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The event in front of the Home Depot at Route 9 and Fulton Street will serve as an opportunity for people to dispose of unwanted or unused medications. The drugs will later be safely disposed of, according to organizers.
The drop-off is being funded by the Dutchess County STOP-DWI Program and New York State Department of Health. It will be administered by Riverkeeper Inc., which, among its many goals, aims to increase awareness of pharmaceutical waste reduction strategies, organizers said.
Additional drop-off events are scheduled for March 11 and include:
- 10-11:30 a.m. at Amenia Town Hall (Winter Farmer’s Market), 4988 Route 22, Amenia
- Noon-1:30 p.m. at the Dover Fire House, 3122 Route 22, Dover Plains
- 2-3:30 p.m. at the Millbrook Fire House, 20 Front St., Millbrook
The events come after Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro said prioritizing the expansion of prescription drug drop-off points is an important step in the fight against opiate and heroin epidemic.
According to city officials, more than 70 percent of abused prescription drugs are obtained through friends and family in possession of legally prescribed, unused medications.
Molinaro’s office said the executive is using the drop-off events as a means to remind people that “reducing the amount of old or unused prescription medications from our home medicine cabinets is the first step to stop addiction before it begins.”
County Legislator Angela Flesland echoed Molinaro’s message.
“A large percentage of heroin users start by abusing prescription drugs,” she said. “Please clean out your medicine cabinet and help prevent potential drug abuse and addiction.”
There are 10 permanent locations that exist as part of Dutchess County’s Prescription Medication Drop Box Program, according to city officials. They include:
- City of Beacon Police Department1 Municipal Plaza, Beacon24 hours, seven days
- Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office150 N. Hamilton Street, Poughkeepsie24 hours, seven days
- East Fishkill Police Department2468 Route 52, Hopewell Junction24 hours, seven days
- Hyde Park Police Department3 Cardinal Road, Hyde Park24 hours, seven days
- New York State Police, Troop K Headquarters2541 Route 44, Salt Point24 hours, seven days
- Pawling Substation, Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office9 Memorial Ave., PawlingCall 845-486-3800 for assistance
- Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department19 Tucker Drive, Poughkeepsie24 hours, seven days
- Millerton Police Department21 Dutchess Ave., MillertonMonday-Friday, 9 a.m.-4p.m.Saturday, noon-midnightSunday, 4 p.m. – midnightCall 518-789-3115 for assistance at any time
- Red Hook Police Department7467 South Broadway, Red HookDaily, 8 a.m.-midnight
- Wappingers Falls Police Department2628 South Ave., Wappingers Falls NY 1259024 hours, seven days
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