Rockville Centre police participate in drug take-back day

The Rockville Centre Police Department collected hundreds of pills and other medications at its headquarters on Maple Avenue as part of the national Prescription Drug Take-Back Day across the country on Sept. 25.

Officers gathered both prescription and over-the-counter medications from community residents who brought them in. The drugs ranged in strength from aspirin and vitamins to oxycontin and nitroglycerin. Members of the police safely disposed of the medications. Coordinated through the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the event attempted to prevent increased pill abuse, misuse, diversion and theft as well as raise awareness about the hazardous effects of prescription drugs and the need to dispose of them in an environmentally conscious manner.

The drug take-back was free and anonymous. The Rockville Centre Police Department was just one of 46 other collection sites on Long Island that provided this service to their communities. In total, over 3,400 government, community, public health and law enforcement partners across the country took part in the day’s event.