National Drug Take Back Day: How to Dispose of Old Meds in Broome County

National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is this Saturday, April 27th from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and Broome County will be participating.

This is your chance to safely dispose of expired, unused and unwanted prescription and over the counter drugs. You can bring your medications for “stop and drop” disposal to the Broome County Health Department, at 225 Front Street in Binghamton, or to the Broome County Intermodal Bus Station, at 81 Chenango Street in Binghamton, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at both locations. The medication will be taken for free and drop off is completely anonymous.

The purpose of National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is to help prevent misuse of medicine that's just sitting in home cabinets. The rate of prescription drug abuse in the United States is scary and so are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies have shown that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.

If you're not free on Saturday to drop off your medication, year-round residents of Broome County can drop-off unwanted medications at the following locations:

1. Broome County Sheriff's Office (Administration lobby) at 155 Lt. VanWinkle Drive in Binghamton from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

2. Endicott Police Station (Lobby) at 1101 Park Street in Endicott from  8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday

3. Broome County Public Library (front near circulation desk) at 185 Court Street, Binghamton from 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

4. Broome County Office Building (Lobby) at 60 Hawley Street in Binghamton from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

[via Broome County/Drug Enforcement Administration]