Chemung County collects 600 lbs. during Drug Take Back
CHEMUNG COUNTY, N.Y. (WETM) — Chemung County residents turned in more than 600 pounds of medications on Drug Take Back Day this weekend.
The Chemung County Sheriff’s Office, volunteers from Trinity of Chemung County, and students from Elmira High School’s SAAD and National Honor Society were at the Southport Volunteer Fire Department and the West Elmira Volunteer Fire Department from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 27, to collect unused, expired, and illegal medications, ointments, oils, patches, and more from the community. According to the sheriff’s office, a total of 214 people turned in 626 pounds of assorted medications between both locations during the event.
Drug “Take Back” initiative returns to the Southern Tier
The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) holds its National Prescription Drug Take Back Day twice a year in April and October. This event invites law enforcement agencies across the country to collect unneeded medications from people in an effort to prevent medication misuse. The program allows people to get rid of medications anonymously with no questions asked.
The Chemung County Sheriff’s Office has been participating in this program since 2010 and says that the event continues to be very popular and successful. According to the sheriff’s office, 7,451 people have participated in Chemung County’s Drug Take Back Day since it started, and the event has collected a total of 21,065 pounds of medications over the past 14 years.
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