(Rome, NY – Oct. 2013) Center for Family Life and Recovery, Inc. and Oneida County Communities That Care Coalition – in partnership with the Rome City Police Department will unveil a new MedReturn Unit on Thursday, Oct. 10 at the Rome Police Department at 9 a.m. (301 North James Street, Rome) for the safe drop off of unused, unwanted and expired prescription medications (i.e., prescription, over the counter and pet drugs).
The MedReturn Unit will become a fixture of Rome City Police Department as a 24 hour option for drug disposal by community members, and was funded by the United Way of Rome and Western Oneida County, Inc. This unit is a part of “Project No Access!” which aims to reduce prescription medication abuse in Oneida County. “Project No Access!” works in conjunction with the National Prescription Drug Take-Back Days, held annually in April and October (October 26, 2013).
National Pill Take Back Initiatives are offered twice a year by local law enforcement agencies in partnership with the Federal Drug Enforcement Agency, in order to make prescription drugs less accessible to youth and others who may misuse them. For more information, visit http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback/.
“We know [that members of] Oneida County are utilizing the Prescription Drug Take-Back Days more, each time we have an event. We are lucky to have one unit available at Utica Police Department, which is a huge first step. But, it isn’t enough to service the entire county. This additional unit, in Rome, will help reach community members in other parts of the county and it’s my personal mission to make sure that these parts of the county are never forgotten,” said Coalition Co-Chair and CFLR, Inc. Prevention Council Coordinator, Samantha McCarthy.