ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Saturday marks National Prescription Drug Takeback Day, and local organizations took part in it.
The day is a biannual campaign, organized by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to keep people safe from unused medication.
In the Rochester area, police departments, Wegmans stores, and other organizations gave people a chance to get rid of old medication. The DEA says the campaign helps to combat substance abuse and prevent medications from ending up in landfills, leading to environmental harm. You can see a list of local drug collection drives in this story.
Uplift Irondequoit partnered with the Irondequoit Police Department for the effort. “We also have a new initiative this event and we are taking back unwanted vapes from community members so that we can promote proper disposal of those devices as well,” said Christina Bartusek, program director of Uplift Irondequoit.
She said the vape takeback supports the Lake Ontario Microplastics Center, including URMC and RIT’s Institute for Human Health and the Environment.
She said disposing of vapes isn’t easy. “So it’s really complex, and really one of the only places that residents and community members can go to dispose of these is to Monroe County Eco Park. However, it’s not very convenient. They have limited hours, so we are trying to open up this new opportunity to give community members the chance to just come right in their own town and get rid of these devices,” said Bartucek.
Organizers said about 100 pounds of medications were collected.
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