The Town of North Hempstead has partnered with the Nassau County Police Department and Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice for a pharmaceutical drug drop-off event this Saturday at schools in Great Neck and Manhasset.
The event is the seventh of its kind within the Town of North Hempstead this fall and will take place at John F. Kennedy Elementary School in Great Neck from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. and within the Manhasset Park District’s parking lot across from Manhasset High School from 9:30 a.m. until 2 p.m.
Officials said the event comes in response to the increase in pharmaceutical drug and heroin use in young adults on Long Island.
“Teenage addiction to prescription painkillers is becoming an epidemic issue across Long Island,” Town of North Hempstead Councilwoman Anna Kaplan said in a statement. “By holding pharmaceutical collection events like these, we are protecting our children as well as our environment by keeping these drugs out of our landfills.”
The Town of North Hempstead was the first municipality in Nassau County to host a pharmaceutical drug disposal event in June 2009, according to a news release.
Officials said more than four tons of unwanted pharmaceutical drugs have been collected since the town began collection began as part of the Stop Throwing Out Pollutants program.
“Medicine cabinets filled with prescription painkillers are targeted by users looking for an easy supply, and the devastating effects of addiction can be found in every community across Nassau County,” Rice said in a statement. “Drug reclamation events provide a safe and secure location to dispose of unused medication before it falls into the wrong hands. I am proud to stand with the Town of North Hempstead and the Nassau County Police Department in sponsoring this essential program.”
According to the news release, expired over-the-counter and prescription medications are eligible for collection and a full list of accepted items can be found on the town’s Web site or by calling 3-1-1.
The town will hold its next Stop Throwing Out Pollutants event on Nov. 3 at North Hempstead Beach Park in Port Washington from 9:30 a.m. until 3 p.m.
