The Greater Valley Substance Abuse Action Council in collaboration with the Seymour and Shelton Police Departments launch a new initiative to help area residents safely dispose of unused, unneeded medications at any time.
“This is the second regional collaboration of its type in Connecticut, and we’re all looking forward to a very successful launch,” Pamela Mautte, Director of VSAAC said.
She and her colleagues have been active participants and co-sponsors of Drug Take Back events in the area for the past four years which VSAAC initiated with funding from the Valley Community Foundation.
“We recognize the importance of these boxes as well as the health and safety benefits” said James Cohen, president of the Valley Community Foundation.
However, unlike Drug Take Back events that happen once or twice a year, the Valley project will make safe disposal of medicines a simple, ongoing option for residents of the Valley towns.
Discarded medications will be processed as abandoned property and safely incinerated.
“This project enables us to destroy medication that can be easily misused or diverted, in addition, it is more cost effective and less labor intensive then the drug take backs we have done over the past four years” said Seymour Community Officer Sergio Desiderato.
Shelton Police Chief Joel Hurliman agreed and added “It is extremely important not only to keep them out of the hands of people who might misuse them or take them by mistake, but also to help safeguard our water supply by preventing drugs and chemicals from leaching into it.”
Beginning today, Sept. 7, secure drop boxes will be on-site at the Seymour and Shelton police department headquarters. Residents may walk in and discard their unneeded medications in the secure drop box at anytime, however syringes will not be accepted. Residents will not be asked questions or need to complete any type of forms to dispose.
For more information about project, please contact Pamela Mautte at 203 – 736-8566 or Officer Desiderato at 203- 881‑7608.
VSAAC is a program of Birmingham Group Health Services Inc. (BGHS). For more information about BGHS, call 203 – 736-2601, or visit www.bghealth.org. For more information about VSAAC visit www.vsaac.org
