National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day

HANCOCK COUNTY - National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day is taking place on Saturday, April 26, 2014 from 10:00 AM until 2:00 PM. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) offers the Drug Take-Back Day in conjunction with local police departments and the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office. Community members are encouraged to bring in any unused, unwanted, or expired prescription drugs for this free, anonymous service.

The following police departments are hosting Drug Take-Back Days from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM on Saturday, April 26^th:

• Bar Harbor
• Bucksport
• Ellsworth
• Gouldsboro
• Mt. Desert
• Southwest Harbor
• Winter Harbor

The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office is hosting their Drug Take-Back Day at the Hancock Woman’s Club, 1416 Route 1 in Hancock, from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM on April 26^th.

“Many people have unused or expired prescription medicines in their homes because they don’t know how or where to safely dispose of them,” stated Elizabeth Lyles of Healthy Acadia, who is working with the police departments and Sheriff’s Office to provide community outreach and education on safe disposal opportunities. “The Drug Take-Back Day provides an excellent opportunity for Hancock County residents to safely get rid of those prescription medicines.”

Properly and safely disposing of excess medication helps to decrease the potential for thievery, accidental poisoning or overdose, as well as misuse and abuse of prescription drugs. Properly disposing of medications also helps to protect the environment, particularly the water supply and soils.

“Prescription drug misuse and abuse can have devastating, lasting effects on individuals, families, and the broader community,” stated Lyles. “As a result, Healthy Acadia has made the prevention of prescription drug misuse and abuse a priority in our efforts to build healthier communities across Downeast Acadia.”

For additional disposal opportunities, the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office and the Bar Harbor, Bucksport, and Southwest Harbor Police Departments all have prescription drug drop boxes located in their lobbies. The drop boxes are accessible twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week; please do not drop off needles or epinephrine pens. For further disposal efforts, contact Elizabeth Lyles at 667-7171 or elizabeth@healthyacadia.org.

Healthy Acadia is excited to continue its collaboration with Hancock County police departments and the Sheriff’s Office to prevent substance abuse and ensure safe drug disposal. In the coming months, Healthy Acadia and law enforcement will be partnering to further increase access to secure, safe disposal sites, among other initiatives.

Healthy Acadia is a community health coalition building vibrant communities and making it easier for all people to lead healthy lives throughout Hancock and Washington Counties. For more information about Healthy Acadia’s substance abuse prevention efforts and other initiatives, visit www.healthyacadia.org.