ANDROSCOGGIN COUNTY — The Medicine Take-Back held Sept. 29 was a huge success. Despite the rain, the take-back sites across Androscoggin County collected and disposed of 1,437 pounds of unwanted and expired medicines. Combined with the Spring Medicine Take-Back, 3800 pounds of unwanted and unused medicines were collected from county residents.

That’s just under two tons of medicines out of homes and long-term care facilities that won’t be abused, accidentally poison children or impact the environment.

Fall take-back by location:

Poland and Greene (Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Office): 68 pounds.

Auburn (Auburn PD): 511.6 pounds.

Lewiston (Lewiston PD): 658.1 pounds.

Lisbon (Lisbon PD): 101.4 pounds.

Livermore Falls (Livermore Falls PD): 35 pounds.

Mechanic Falls (Mechanic Falls PD): 12.8 pounds.

Sabattus (Sabattus PD): 50.1 pounds.

In Lewiston/Auburn, more than 11,000 pills of controlled medicines were collected including several containers of medications such as oxycodone, Adderall and hydrocodone. The collection sites at Farwell Elementary School in Lewiston and Bedard Pharmacy in Auburn saw 426 area households dropping off expired and unwanted medications.

Of those, 208 were households that have participated in previous take-backs, a 27 percent increase from the spring event. This illustrates that the program is having one of its intended impacts which is to encourage the public to regularly go through their medicines and get rid of anything that they no longer need. These piles of unneeded medicines can often be sources for those who wish to abuse them.

Healthy Androscoggin teamed up with Auburn and Lewiston police departments and several community partners to provide coordination support for the Lewiston and Auburn sites. Many thanks and congratulations go out to those community partners: DEA, Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments, CMMC College of Nursing, St. Mary’s Health System, Lewiston Public Schools, The Medicine Shoppe, Lewiston-Auburn Water Pollution Control Authority, Auburn PD VIPS and Regional Explorer Post 333, and CMCC’s criminal justice department and Criminal Justice Club.

The next take-back will be scheduled for some time in the spring. The date will be posted at www.healthyandroscoggin.org.

New 24/7 drop-off box for Lisbon residents

Healthy Androscoggin, Project Unite! and Lisbon Police Department have installed a new permanent medicine collection box at the Lisbon Police Department. The purchase of the collection box is funded by the Drug Free Communities Support Program grant.

The collection box will be available for residents seven days a week, 24 hours a day. Items that are accepted include prescription medications, ointments and patches; over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, samples and medications for pets.

Items that are not accepted are inhalers, aerosol cans, hydrogen peroxide, thermometers, needles (sharps), medication from businesses or clinics, ointments, lotions or liquids.

If you are still not sure if you can return your specific items, contact the Lisbon Police Department to find out.

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