Green Mountain College to collect drugs for disposal

On Thursday, April 20, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. the Regional Prevention Partnerships (RPP) of Rutland, in collaboration with Green Mountain College and the Rutland County Sheriff’s Department, will give the public the opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs.  Bring your pills for disposal to Green Mountain College, 1 Brennan Circle in Poultney. The service is free and anonymous with no questions asked.
“The Regional Prevention Partnerships (RPP) of Rutland is pleased to sponsor a Take Back Event at Green Mountain College,” said Emily Oswald Cummings, coordinator of the RPP of Rutland. “It’s a convenient and safe way for community members to dispose of expired and unused prescription medications, and overall, an easy way for people to take part in creating a healthy community and planet.”
Prescription Drug Take Back events address a vital public safety and public health issue.  Medicines that accumulate in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines—flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash—pose potential safety and health hazards.
“Properly disposing of unused prescription medications is consistent with Green Mountain College’s commitment to environmental and social sustainability, “said Gwen Koenig, counselor at Green Mountain College. “This is an excellent opportunity for the college and Poultney Town to collaborate in an effort that will help improve the community as a whole.”
Twice a year, in April and October, law enforcement and the DEA hold Take Back events nationwide. Last April, Americans across the nation turned in 447 tons (over 893,000 pounds) of prescription drugs at almost 5,400 sites operated by the DEA and more than 4,200 of its state and local law enforcement partners. Overall, in its 11 previous Take Back events, DEA and its partners have taken in over 6.4 million pounds—about 3,200 tons—of pills.