Norwalk cops hold drug takeback event
Apr. 25—NORWALK — Norwalk police said its prescription drug takeback event from this past weekend was a big success.
About 40 pounds of prescription drugs were turned in Saturday while another 100 pounds were turned in over the last six months, police said.
After the Saturday event, the prescription drugs were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Agency in Mansfield for disposal, according to Norwalk police Detective Scott Hamernik.
Hamernik said drug takeback events are important because, "It prevents those substances from getting on the streets and being sold and obviously there's opioid abuse that takes place."
He also said drug takeback events help parents limit what their kids can get into.
"You don't want to be leaving medications around the house that kids can get into," Hamernik said.
Norwalk police Chief Dave Smith said the police department used to have a drop box for prescriptions in the lobby of the police department for year-round collections, but now the department urges people to go to CVS, which offers prescription drug takeback services on a year-round basis.
According to the website safe.pharmacy, both CVS at 106 Milan Ave. and Rite Aid at 99 Whittlesey Ave., offer prescription drug drop-off boxes.
According to the safe.pharmacy website, "Old prescriptions left unsecured in the home can often be an easy source for someone thinking about unsafely using prescription medications and can pose danger to pets or children who may accidentally ingest them. Each year, there are approximately 60,000 emergency department visits and 450,000 calls to poison centers after children under 6 years old ingest medication without a caregiver's oversight. They can also be confusing for elderly people who may have multiple prescriptions."
