Expired drugs can be brought to a drop-off box at the Guilford Police Department on Church Street. The box has been at the station for over a decade, but the department is reminding residents that there is a safe way to dispose of unwanted medications.

Newly named Police Chief Chris Massey said the program intends to instill awareness that this disposal service is available and could save a life by getting potent drugs out of the hands of people who could misuse them. Though difficult to quantify how much of an impact the program has, as law enforcement personnel do not calculate the amount of any individual substances being dropped off, Massey did say the benefits are clear.

“We don’t necessarily know how many accidental overdoses are being avoided, and we can’t really quantify the deterrent factor...but certainly it...limits access and gets these drugs out of homes and kids,” said Massey. “We don’t go through what is dropped off, and we don’t identify specific items as it’s anonymous and analyze what’s being turned in. There is also a safety factor for personnel, as we don’t want staff handling potentially lethal items. But I definitely think it has a positive impact. There’s no doubt that these boxes help communities avoid some of the issues that arise when these drugs are accessible to kids or for someone suffering from addiction. I think keeping the level of awareness that this service is available is a good thing.”

According to Massey, every potentially dangerous drug out of someone’s hands is a victory in light of the overdose epidemic that exploded just before the pandemic and has only been compounded since then. Almost 200,000 Americans overdosed in 2020 and 2021 combined, and though the first nine months of 2022 saw a drop in that figure, overdose deaths remain staggeringly high.

Other benefits of the program include environmental factors, according to Massey. Many of us simply flush expired or unused meds down the toilet, but research has indicated many of these substances leech back into our environment, including drinking water. Some medications can also have adverse effects on septic systems, according to the State of Connecticut website.

“This is definitely the most environmentally safe way to dispose of these products because we deliver these items for proper disposal,” Massey said.

According to Massey, the program is currently well utilized, and in an average year, the department disposes of close to half a ton of medication.

“Typically, in the course of a year, we’ll process anywhere from 800-1,000 pounds of unused medication, which is an unbelievable amount when you think about it. It is very well used here,” Massey said.

The box is located in the lobby of the Guilford Police Department on Church Street. It is a large green box, and it is anonymous. No interaction with personnel is needed.

“This is an anonymous system. They do not need to communicate with anyone. They can simply come in and place their unused or expired rugs into the box, which is similar to a mail drop box,” Massey said. “Folks should also note what we accept and don’t accept.”

Massey recommended that anyone disposing of products remove as much superfluous packing as possible. There is no need to remove pills from blister packs, but items should be removed from outside boxes or containers if possible.

“We ask folks to remove extra packaging if at all feasible,” said Massey. “And put items in one at a time so that the box doesn’t get clogged. And please avoid placing needles or liquids into the box. The device is not outfitted to accept those items, and they can be a danger to personnel. It’s just for solid medications.”

For more information, including where to dispose of needles and liquid medications, visit www.ct.gov/deep.