It was an overwhelmingly successful day for the Substance Abuse Coalition on Saturday.
The organization, who partnered with the Ontario County Sherriff’s Office announced that over 860 pounds of unwanted medication was collected this past Saturday at the Canandaigua Wegmans at our annual Spring “Medication Take Back” event.
This event was sponsored by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) for the National Medication Take Back Event.
They had 347 participants join the effort.
According to the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, 3 to 7 percent of all medications go unused. Some of these unsecured drugs end up in the hands of young people in our community, in our drinking water, involved in accidental poisonings, taken from our seniors or are otherwise improperly disposed of drugs.
It takes a lot of collaboration to put together events like these, according to the Coalition, who thanked all of those who participated.
The organization added in a statement, “A special thank you goes to the many volunteers who have helped support this event including from the Prevention Coalition, Ontario County Sheriff’s Office Recruits, Ontario County Office of the Aging, Council on Alcoholism and Addiction of the Finger Lakes, Thompson Health, Crosswinds Church, Canandaigua Rotary and Quail Summit.”
Unwanted medication can also be dropped off at the permanent collection boxes located at the following locations:
- Bristol Town Hall (Open Monday – Friday from 8am – 12pm, 1:30pm – 4pm)
- Geneva:
- Police Station (Open 24 hours a day)
- North Street Pharmacy (Open Monday – Friday from 9am – 6pm)
- Canandaigua:
- DMV Office (Open Monday – Friday from 8:30am – 4:30pm)
- FLCC (Keuka Wing, near gym, Open Monday – Friday, 8am – 9pm)
- The Medicine Shoppe (Open Monday – Friday, 9am – 6pm, Saturday, 10am – 1pm)
- Mental Health Clinic at the County Complex (Building 3019, Open Monday – Friday from 8:30am – 5pm)
- Thompson Hospital (Lobby near the ATM, Open Daily 6:30am – 8:30pm)
- Farmington/Canandaigua – State Police Barracks (Open 24 hours a day)
- Clifton Springs Hospital (Lobby near the ATM, Open 24 hours a day)
- Rushville – Village Hall (Open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 9am – 12pm & 1pm – 4:30pm)
- Victor – Mead Square Pharmacy (Open Monday – Friday 9am – 7pm & Saturday, 9am – 4pm)
Additional drop off days, like the one held on Saturday will be happening in the coming weeks.
On May 20th, the coalition will be hosting our next Medication Take Back event at the Richmond Town Hall from 9 am until 12 pm.
Petrea Rae, Coordinator for the Coalition said after the event’s conclusion, “Thank you for continuing your support of the Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition, if you have participated in any take back events or seen our ‘Monitor, Secure and Dispose Campaign,’ please let us know what you think by taking a brief 5 question survey, which can be found here.”
To learn more about the Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition of Ontario County contact Petrea Rae, Coalition Coordinator at [email protected] or 585-396-4554.
The Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition is an initiative of the Partnership for Ontario County.
