DEA Holding Drug Drop-Offs at Three Local Police HQs

There will be prescription drug drop-offs at three Rockland County law enforcement locations from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

People can bring their prescription drugs for safe disposal to the Orangetown Police Department in Orangeburg, South Nyack-Grand View Police Department and the Rockland County Sherriff's Office in New City.

There will be large bins set up at all three locations. The drop-off was organized by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration as part of the National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.

"They supply two special agents to do the collection," Orangetown Police Chief Kevin Nulty said. "We've been a partner on this since they've done it."

This is the fourth National Prescription Drug Take Back Day organized by the DEA. According to the DEA website, more than 188.5 tons of unwanted or expired medications were collected at 5,327 sites . Nearly 500 tons of medication have been taken back in three such days over the last 13 months.

“The amount of prescription drugs turned in by the American public during the past three Take-Back Day events speaks volumes about the need to develop a convenient way to rid homes of unwanted or expired prescription drugs,” said DEA Administrator Michele M. Leonhart through a release on the DEA website. “DEA remains hard at work to establish just such a drug disposal process, and will continue to offer take-back opportunities until the proper regulations are in place.”