The Milford Police Department and the Milford Prevention Council in conjunction with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) accepted unwanted prescription drugs from the public on Saturday, Sept. 27, as part of a nationwide initiative to prevent prescription drug abuse.
Volunteers from the Milford Police Department Citizens Academy assisted with the event.
The drop-off location for this one-day event was the Milford Senior Center parking lot. Volunteers collected 198 pounds of unwanted prescription drugs during the event.
“This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse,” said Police Department Spokesman Jeff Nielsen. “Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs.
“Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.”