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TNH to Host Pharmaceutical Take-Back Event at NHP Memorial High School and Schreiber High School

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 26, 2012
MEDIA CONTACTS: Collin Nash & Sid Nathan | (516) 869-7794

TNH to Host Pharmaceutical Take-Back Event at NHP Memorial High School and Schreiber High School
 
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 announce that North Hempstead is taking its highly successful pharmaceutical take-back program on the road, making stops at high school campuses across the town.

“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.”

Partnering with the nine school districts participating in North Hempstead’s comprehensive School Recycling Partnership program, the Town is hosting drug-take-back events at two locations, New Hyde Park Memorial High School in the Sewanhaka School District and Schreiber High School in Port Washington.

Both events will take place May 12 from 9:30 a.m. 3:00 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 said.

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 2.5 tons of expired and unwanted pharmaceuticals has been collected under the initiative, now a permanent part of the STOP (Stop Throwing out Pollutants) Program.

If you are unable to attend the May 12 events, you may bring your unwanted pharmaceuticals to all town STOP (Stop throwing out pollutants) program. The next event is June 9th from 9:30am – 3:00pm at the Solid Waste Management Authority (SWMA) 802 West Shore Road in Port Washington.

We 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.
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