Chief’s Column
GRAFTON POLICE TO AGAIN PARTICIPATE IN
NATIONAL DRUG TAKE-BACK INITIATIVE
on
APRIL 28, 2012
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has scheduled another National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day which will take place on Saturday, April 28, 2012, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. This is a great opportunity for those who missed the previous events, or who have subsequently accumulated unwanted, unused prescription drugs, to safely dispose of those medications.
The Grafton Police Department in cooperation with DEA will be accepting unwanted and unused prescription drugs from 10:00 am until 2:00 pm on that day. These items may be dropped off in the training room located on the second floor at the Grafton Police Headquarters.
Americans that participated in the DEA’s third National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on October 29, 2011, turned in more than 377,086 pounds (188.5 tons) of unwanted or expired medications for safe and proper disposal at the 5,327 take-back sites that were available in all 50 states and U.S. territories. When the results of the three prior Take-Back Days are combined, the DEA, and its state, local, and tribal law-enforcement and community partners have removed 995,185 pounds (498.5 tons) of medication from circulation in the past 13 months.
“The amount of prescription drugs turned in by the American public during the past three Take-Back Day events speaks volumes about the need to develop a convenient way to rid homes of unwanted or expired prescription drugs,” said DEA Administrator Michele M. Leonhart. “DEA remains hard at work to establish just such a drug disposal process, and will continue to offer take-back opportunities until the proper regulations are in place.”
“With the continued support and hard work of our more than 3,945 state, local, and tribal law enforcement and community partners, these three events have dramatically reduced the risk of prescription drug diversion and abuse, and increased awareness of this critical public health issue,” said Leonhart.
National Prescription Drug Take Back Day addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Many Americans do not know how to properly dispose of their unused medicine, often flushing them down the toilet or throwing them away – both potential safety and health hazards.
Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse.
More than seven million Americans currently abuse prescription drugs, according to the 2009 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Each day, approximately 2,500 teens use prescription drugs to get high for the first time according to the Partnership for a Drug Free America. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including the home medicine cabinet.
Normand A. Crepeau, Jr.
Chief of Police
ONE WAY NOTIFICATION
Depot Street Bridge
To minimize the threat fo public safety that currenly exists due to the deteriorating sidewalk condition on the Depot Street Bridge, effective Monday, March 28, 2011 the sidewalk and the adjacent travel lane will be closed and Depot Street will become one way in an easterly direction from Ferry Street and Maple Avenue toward Providence Rd (Rt. 122).
Two way Traffic will still be allowed between Providence Road and the bridge in order to minimize commercial vehicle traffic.