FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 2, 2012
MEDIA CONTACTS: Collin Nash & Sid Nathan | (516) 869-7794
TNH to Host Pharmaceutical Take-Back Event in Manhasset
Manhasset, NY– As the population of young people said to be abusing prescription drugs climb to alarming heights, Supervisor Jon Kaiman and the Town Board announced that North Hempstead is once again, taking its highly successful pharmaceutical take-back program on the road.
“The growing success of our pharmaceutical take-back program not only underscores the critical need for such an effort, but speaks volumes about the troublesome quantity of potentially dangerous drugs that might otherwise be left in households or improperly discarded, posing a threat to the safety of our environment and our children,” Supervisor Jon Kaiman said. “We are proud to be at the forefront of this vital program in Nassau County.”
The Town of North Hempstead has partnered once again with Manhasset CASA, the Nassau County Police and the Manhasset Park District.
Cathy Samuels, Project Director of Manhasset CASA said, “Often, young people underestimate the dangers of misusing prescription medicines, which some experts contend is a ‘gateway’ to other illegal drugs like heroin.”
“Parents have to understand that for many teens, prescription drugs appear to be a ‘medically safe high’ because in their minds, these medicines were prescribed by a doctor,” Samuels mentioned.
Partnering with the nine school districts participating in North Hempstead’s comprehensive School Recycling Partnership Program, the Town is hosting the drug-take-back event at the Manhasset Park District commuter lot near Manhasset High School on Memorial Place. The event will take place Saturday, October 20 from 9:30 a.m. 2:00 p.m.
According to experts, one primary cause of the drug problem on Long Island is how easily teens can find them. Over half of teens who abuse prescription painkillers report they get them for free from the homes of family or friends, or they take them from family or friends without asking. Minimizing the potential for medications to be exposed to illegal uses will positively impact drug abuse, law enforcement experts believe.
Moreover, pharmaceutical collection also offers a means of keeping prescription and over-the-counter drugs out of our landfills, and ultimately our drinking water.
In June 2009, North Hempstead became the first municipality in Nassau County to host a pharmaceutical disposal event. Since then, more than 3 tons of expired and unwanted pharmaceuticals have been collected under the initiative, now a permanent part of the S.T.O.P. (Stop Throwing out Pollutants) Program.
If you are unable to attend the October 20th event, you may bring your unwanted pharmaceuticals to the next S.T.O.P. event, scheduled for November 4th from 9:30am – 3:00pm at North Hempstead Beach Park on West Shore Road in Port Washington.
The Town want so urge all residents to take advantage of this convenient opportunity to clean out your medicine cabinets and dispose of all of your unwanted or expired over-the-counter and prescription medication. For more information, please visit www.northhempsteadny.gov or call 311.