Putnam County’s Medication Take Back Day A Success

The Putnam Communities That Care Coalition, the Putnam County Department of Health, and the Putnam Sheriff’s Department joined forces to facilitate National Medication Take Back Day at The Putnam County Sherriff’s Department on April 24, 2021.

The national drug take back initiative is a bi-annual event coordinated through the DEA. The event provides a safe, convenient, and anonymous means of disposing prescription, over the counter and pet medications, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse. The drive through, socially distanced event was attended by over 120 individuals from Putnam, Westchester, Orange, Dutchess, and Fairfield counties. Over 450 lbs. of medication was recovered. The collection of unused medications is one way we can keep our community safe and is closely aligned with the HEALing Communities Study that Putnam County is participating in. The overall goal of the study is to reduce opioid overdose deaths in Putnam County over a three year period. For more information on the study, please visit : https://healingcommunitiesstudy.org/communities/nyputnam.html

In addition to the collection of over 450 lbs. of medication, The Putnam Communities That Care Coalition distributed FREE Deterra Drug Deactivation kits to all attendees. Volunteers from our Communities That Cares Coalitions helped to facilitate the smooth running of the event and provided information, and resources, for year round disposal at local drop boxes. Medication Drop Boxes can be found at the following locations throughout Putnam County: Kent Police Department, Kern Building-Brewster, Patterson Town Hall, Philipstown Town Hall, Putnam Sheriff’s Office, and Putnam Valley Town Hall and Carmel Town Hall. Needles/lotions/liquids/aerosol cans NOT accepted in drop boxes. Putnam Hospital Center will accept sharps/syringes (no medications) Monday-Friday from 9am-4pm in the main lobby. Please call ahead for COVID-19 protocols. (845) 279-5711.

For information or to obtain FREE Deterra Drug Deactivation kits, please call the Prevention Council of Putnam at (845) 225-4646. Please email us at info@preventioncouncilputnam.org or follow us on Facebook@putnamctc, Facebook@preventioncouncilputnam, Twitter@putnamctc, Twitter@preventionptnm, and Instagram@preventionalptnm.