April 29, 2011
YNN Staff
SARATOGA COUNTY, N.Y. — Local agencies in Saratoga County are teaming up with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration in an effort to participate in “National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day.”
Officials say prescription drug abuse is common among teens because they are accessible.
On Saturday, there will be three collection sites open from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Those are at the Saratoga Springs City Hall, at 52 Weibel Avenue and at the New York State Police Public Safety Building in Clifton Park.
Members of the Saratoga County Prevention Council say the numbers of teens abusing drugs has gone up nationally and locally. They hope folks will come out to get rid of those drugs lying around their homes.
“When you open your med cabinet, how much is still sitting in there from a surgery you had a year ago or a toothache, it’s sitting there and it’s a sitting duck for a teenager to come in and get high from,” said Heather Kisselbeck, Executive Director of Saratoga County Prevention Council.
Organizers say the collection process is completely anonymous.
For more information:
In Saratoga County there will be three collection sites open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Saratoga Springs Police Benevolent Association will sponsor a collection site at 52 Weibel Avenue and the Saratoga Springs Police Department will host a collection site at City Hall, 5 Lake Avenue in Saratoga Springs. The New York State Police will also hold a collection site at the Public Safety Building, 5 Municipal Plaza Rt. 146 in Clifton Park. Members of law enforcement and the DEA will be present at both collection sites and the process is completely anonymous. Items accepted include prescription and over-the counter tablets and capsules, vitamins, supplements and herbals. Items that cannot be accepted include intravenous solutions, injectables, needles and illicit substances.
For questions about the Saratoga Springs Take-Back Collection, the public can contact Maureen Cary of the Prevention Council at (518) 581-1230, Lt. Greg Veitch of the Saratoga Springs Police Department at (518) 584-1800 or District Attorney James A. Murphy III at (518) 885-2263. Questions regarding Take-Back Day at the Public Safety Building in Clifton Park should be directed to Robin Lyle of the Prevention Council at (518) 581-1230 or Sr. Inv. Patricia Donovan of the NYSP Clifton Park at (518) 383-8583.