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04/03/2018 04:30 PMThink of it as a critically important part of spring cleaning. For the third year in a row, Guilford legislators and community leaders are asking residents to go through their medicine cabinets and drop off all old or unused medications at the Guilford Police Department on Saturday, April 7, for Medication Take Back Day.
Organized by State Representative Sean Scanlon (D-98) in coordination with Guilford DAY (Developmental Assets for Youth) and the Guilford Police Department, the event is designed to raise awareness and encourage residents to clean out their medicine cabinets. Scanlon, who has dedicated a substantial part of his time in Hartford to fighting the opioid epidemic, said something as small as removing unused prescription drugs from the house can have a big impact.
“We know from Centers for Disease Control data that the majority of people who begin misusing opioids start with prescription drugs and 50 percent of those drugs were given to them or taken from a family member of friend who had a legitimate prescription,” he said. “Getting rid of the excess supply of drugs sitting in our medicine cabinets will without a doubt help us combat the opioid epidemic by removing what starts these powerful addictions in the first place from our homes.”
In the first year of the Take Back Day campaign, more than 60 pounds of medication was collected, according to Scanlon. Guilford’s Sue Kruczek, who lost her son Nick to an overdoes, said events like Take Back Day help get medications out of the home and spread information.
“Disposing properly of unused meds is crucial,” she said. “The medicine cabinet could be somebody’s first drug dealer. Many teens abusing pills first get them from a friend or family member.”
In addition to Take Back Day, Guilford DAY recently received a $5,000 community mini grant through the State of Connecticut. According to Guilford Youth & Family Services (GYFS) Program Director Karol Regan, the grant provides funding to communities to help develop local opioid addiction and overdose prevention.
“Through this grant, we are educating local doctors, dentists, and veterinarians on the Connecticut Prescription Monitoring and Reporting System [CPMRS], which enables prescribers to track individual prescription activity,” she said. “We will also be distributing opioid use disorder information to parents/community members in conjunction with a community presentation by Dr. Ruth Potee on the Science of Addiction on Tuesday, April 24.”
The grant will allow for multiple educational events regarding opioid addiction, according to Regan, who said members of the public can contact GYFS at 203-453-8047 with questions about upcoming events. Take Back Day is a big part of the opioid education effort, but the medication box at the police station helps curb excess prescription medication in the community all year long.
Use of the box is completely anonymous, unmonitored, and all medication collected is later incinerated. Guilford Police Chief Jeff Hutchinson previously said in 2014—the first year the box was installed—that 398 pounds of medication was collected; in 2015, 720 pounds of medication was collected; and in 2016, 873 pounds of medication was collected.
Medication Take Back Day is Saturday, April 7 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Guilford Police Station, 400 Church Street. The medication lock box at the police station is available to the public 24/7, 365 days a year.