Prescription Drug Drop Off Made Easy

Suffolk County government and police officials recently announced the development of "Operation Medicine Cabinet," a police district-wide program that enables parents to drop off unwanted, unused, or expired medications at a safe and secure location 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

County Executive Steve Levy, a Bayport resident, was joined by Suffolk Legislator Steven Stern, Police Commissioner Richard Dormer, Health Services Commissioner Dr. James Tomarken and Environment and Energy Commissioner Carrie Meek-Gallagher to unveil the program, which is a New York State first.

The contingent said the initiative should encourage parents to rid their homes of unused and unwanted prescription medications that can easily become a first step on the path to adolescent drug abuse.

"Health and law enforcement professionals know that prescription opiate abuse is leading our young ones down the path to heroin use," said Levy. "'Operation Medicine Cabinet' is designed to attack this epidemic at its earliest stage by reducing the risk that meds are unwittingly available to children and others who could use them in an unintended manner."

Through 'Operation Medicine Cabinet,' secure receptacles will be placed inside each of Suffolk's seven police precincts, Bayport and Blue Point residents who would like to take advantage of this initiative can go to the fifth precinct, located at 125 Waverly Avenue in Patchogue . Don't worry, receptacle use in anonymous, and its long-term objectives are to decrease cases of accidental ingestion of unknown or expired prescription drugs and to close the gateway to heroin abuse by reducing the availability of prescription drugs such as Oxycontin, Percocet and Vicodin.

According to the New York State Department of Health, Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement, numerous municipalities have offered one-time-only drop-off days, but 'Operation Medicine Cabinet' will make the Suffolk County Police Department the first department statewide to offer a permanent, 24/7 drop-off facility.

This program is a new component in Suffolk's drug prevention efforts, as Levy said prevention is generally more effective than enforcement in the fight against drugs.

"The Suffolk County Police Department is making it safe and convenient for residents to drop off their unwanted medications with a no-questions-asked policy," Suffolk County Police Commissioner Richard Dormer said. "For both the safety of our children and the protection of the environment, this program is a win-win."