The Drug Enforcement Agency’s National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day is Saturday, April 28. Last year Maine collected 68,840 pounds of unused and expired prescription drugs. 

The day aims to provide a safe, convenient and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while educating the public about the potential for abuse of medications. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are at alarming rates, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs.

Studies show that many abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, many Americans do not know how to properly dispose of their unused medicine, often flushing them down the toilet or throwing them away — both potential safety and health hazards.

The total number of Mainers who died from drug overdose in 2017 was 418, according to River Valley Rising; nearly half of those were from heroin and prescription opioid use. 

Prescriptions can be dropped off, no questions asked. Local collection sites include:

Auburn: Auburn Police Department, 60 Court St.; and Bedard Pharmacy, 359 Minot Ave., run by Auburn Police Department.

Bethel: Oxford County Sheriff’s Office, 18 Mayville Road.

Bridgton: Bridgton Community Center, 15 Depot St., run by Bridgton Police Department.

Dixfield: Dixfield Police Department, 236 Main St.

Farmington: Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, 123 County Way; and Farmington Police Department, 116 Franklin Ave.

Freeport: Freeport Police Department, 16 Main St.

Fryeburg: Rite Aid Pharmacy, 119 Bridgton Road, run by Fryeburg Police Department.

Gray: Maine State Police Troop B, 1 Game Farm Road.

Jay: Jay Police Department, 340 Main St.

Lewiston: Lewiston High School, 156 East Ave., run by Lewiston Police Department.

Lisbon: Lisbon Police Department, 300 Lisbon St. 

Litchfield: Litchfield Transfer Station, 2274 Hallowell Road, run by Kennebec County Sheriff’s Office.

Livermore Falls: Livermore Falls Police Department, 2 Main St.

Mechanic Falls: Mechanic Falls Police Department, 108 Lewiston St.

Mexico: Mexico Town Office, 134 Main St., run by Mexico Police Department.

Monmouth: Monmouth Transfer Station, 135 Maine Route 126, run by Monmouth Police Department. 

Norway: Norway Police Department, 19 Danforth St.

Oxford: Oxford Police Department, Oxford Public Safety Building, 701 Main St.

Paris: Oxford County Sherriff’s Office, 26 Western Ave.; and Market Square Health Care Center, 3 Market Square, run by Paris Police Department.

Poland: Poland Town Office Complex, 1231 Maine St., run by Androscoggin Sheriff’s Department.

Porter: Sacopee Valley Health Center, 70 Main St., operated by Oxford County Sheriff’s Office.

Rangeley: Rangeley Town Office Building, 15 School St., operated by Rangeley Police Department. 

Raymond: Raymond Fire Department, 1443 Roosevelt Trail, operated by Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office. 

Readfield: Readfield/Wayne Transfer Station, 8 Old Kents Hill Road, operated by Kennebec County Sheriff’s Office.

Rumford: Rumford Police Department, 150 River St.

Sabattus: Sabattus Police Department, 190 Middle Road.

Topsham: Topsham Town Hall, 100 Main St., operated by Topsham Police Department.

Turner: Turner Fire & Rescue Station, 19 General Turner Hill Road, operated by Androscoggin Sheriff’s Department.

Wilton: Wilton Police Department, 874 Main St.

Winthrop: Winthrop Police Department, 15 Town Hall Lane.

To find a location nearby, visit takebackday.dea.gov/.

A trashcan full of empty prescription drug containers is seen at the Oxford County Sheriff’s Office in Paris in 2015. National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is aimed at curbing theft and the environmental hazards of the drugs, which are sometimes flushed down the drain. The surrendered goods will be incinerated. (Christopher Crosby/Sun Journal file photo)

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