HANCOCK COUNTY - National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day is taking place on Saturday, September 27, 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, September 27th:
• 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 Blue Hill Memorial Hospital in the lobby, 57 Water St. in Blue Hill, from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM on September 27th.
“Community members, patients, and employees have expressed interest in Blue Hill Memorial Hospital providing safe prescription drug disposal,” stated Kelley Columber, Community Relations Manager at Blue Hill Memorial Hospital. “We are excited to partner with the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office and Healthy Acadia to address this important need in our communities.”
“People are often confused or do not know how or where to safely dispose of their prescription medications,” said Elizabeth Lyles of Healthy Acadia, who is working with the police departments, Sheriff’s Office, and local organizations to provide community outreach and education on safe disposal opportunities. “The Drug Take-Back Day provides an excellent opportunity for Hancock County residents to dispose of their unused or expired prescription medicines.”
Properly and safely disposing of excess medication helps to decrease the potential for thievery, accidental poisoning or overdose, as well as misuse of prescription drugs. Properly disposing of medications also helps to protect the environment, particularly the water supply and soils.
“Prescription drug misuse and addiction can have detrimental, lasting effects on individuals, families, and the community as a whole,” stated Lyles. “As a result, Healthy Acadia has made the prevention of prescription drug misuse 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, Ellsworth, Mount Desert, 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 for anonymous disposal of prescription medications; please no needles or epinephrine pens. For further disposal efforts contact Elizabeth Lyles at 667-7171 orelizabeth@healthyacadia.org.
Healthy Acadia is excited to continue its collaboration with Hancock County police departments and the Sheriff’s Office to prevent substance misuse and ensure safe drug disposal.
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 prevention efforts and other initiatives, visit www.healthyacadia.org.
