Senator Brooks: Massapequa Drug Take-Back Day an Overwhelming Success
Long Island, NY - May 1, 2018 - Senator John Brooks thanks Massapequa High School, the Massapequa Takes Action Coalition, Assemblywoman Christine Pellegrino, Nassau County Police Department, the volunteers and all who participated, assisted, and dropped off drugs at the Massapequa Drug & Medication Take-Back Day on Saturday, April 28th at Massapequa High School. The participation from many surrounding communities was very robust, with about 500 pounds of medications dropped off for safe disposal. Also collected were 175 lbs. of needles/syringes.
The Massapequa Drug & Medication Take-Back Day was organized to provide the community with a safe, convenient, and responsible way to dispose of unused, unwanted or expired prescriptions and over-the-counter medications. The event was part of a larger, ongoing nationwide effort to collect unneeded prescription drugs, including controlled substances, for safe and legal disposal.
This initiative addressed a vital, nationwide public safety and public health concern. More than 2,000 teens - between the ages of 12 to 17 - begin abusing prescription drugs each day (according to a SAMHSA teen survey). At the same time, drug addiction experts contend that abuse of prescribed or legal narcotics, such as painkillers, are a gateway to illegal street drugs such as heroin. The rates of prescription drug abuse in the U. S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. The majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from homes’ medicine cabinets.
Senator Brooks said, “I wish to thank all those who took pro-active steps to keep us safe from drug use and protect our youth, our community and our environment by disposing of prescription and over-the-counter medications, needles and syringes. By continuously working together we can make major improvements in seemingly insurmountable community problems.”