In conjunction with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Chester, Deep River, and Essex will host a drug take-back day on Saturday, Oct. 24.

“There are a lot of positives about having a drug take back day,” said Essex Director of Health Lisa Fasulo. “It allows people to properly dispose of expired or unwanted medications. You don’t want extra medications around because they could be used inappropriately or by people they are not prescribed for.”

The Town of Essex event runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the parking lot of the Town Hall at 29 West Avenue. Deep River’s program will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Tri-Town Youth Services, 56 High Street, Deep River; Chester’s program will be held from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Chester Town Hall, 203 Middlesex Avenue, Chester.

In the United States, there are 9.7 million people who misuse prescription pain relievers, according to the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.

Of those 9.7 million, 50.8 percent of people either bought them from, took them from, or were given them by a friend or relative.

The contribution of prescription pain relievers to the opioid overdose crisis is well documented nationally and on a state level.

Connecticut tracks its opioid overdoses using data from hospitals and local emergency medical services (EMS), to help mitigate the problem. The initiative, implemented in 2019, has been named Connecticut’s Statewide Opioid Reporting Directive (SWORD).

According to SWORD’s 2020 annual report, 11 percent of overdoses in the state were from prescription opioids. Eighty-seven percent were related to heroin or fentanyl.

Overall, the state is seeing a rise in suspected overdoses since January. Middlesex County saw an increase from 16 cases in January, out of 350 statewide, to 21 cases in August, out of 470 cases statewide.

Asked about the rising overdose cases in Middlesex County and the state overall, Fasulo said that the issue of prescription misuse as it relates to the opioid crisis is complex and that societal stressors, such as the pandemic, could be a contributing factor.

“Whatever the reason…there are additional stressors going on in society, so people may be turning to opioids and other drugs to manage their stress and that can quickly lead to negative outcomes,” she said.

Fasulo was quick to point out that there are resources available for individuals seeking treatment for a drug addiction or disorder.

“There are people out there that can help them,” she said.

One example includes the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Service’s 24/7 access phone line, 1-800-563-4086, which can help connect individuals with substance abuse treatment.

Besides the potential for negative consequences on human health if taken inappropriately, certain prescription and over-the-counter drugs can have negative consequences on the environment, especially if they are flushed down the toilet or put down the sink.

“The estrogens, antibiotics, when you put those down the drain and they go into a septic system and go down into the soils, it could affect groundwater…Even low levels can have a negative impact,” said Fasulo.

Some examples of that impact include “water pollution and…adverse effects on septic systems, sewage treatment plants, fish, and other aquatic wildlife,” according to the state’s Department of Energy & Environmental Protection.

Participating in a drug take-back day offers individuals an easy way of disposing of drugs while avoiding some of the negative consequences of improper disposal, said Fasulo.

“The drug take-back days are terrific…having it be quick and convenient, no questions asked, you just drop them in the bin,” she said.

If individuals are not able to participate in a national drug take back day, which is typically held twice a year, drug collection boxes are another option throughout the year. One nearby location is Connecticut State Police Troop F’s facility in Westbrook at 315 Spencer Plains Road.