Permanent Drug Take-Back Box Installed in Lobby of Manchester Police Department

The has permanently installed a Prescription Drug Take-Back Box in the lobby of the department's headquarters at 239 East Middle Turnpike. Due to the success of the National Drug Take Back initiatives by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Manchester Police Department has decided to take it a step further and make the drop box accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  

Police are giving the public another opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous, expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.  

“We wanted to provide a safe and secure location for folks to drop off these items, instead of having to wait for a specific event twice a year. We want to make this as simple as possible for everyone. Come in, drop off your medications, no questions asked and no paperwork for the public,” stated Manchester Police Officer Stacey Forish. 

On April 28th, 2012, the Manchester Police Department took back nine large boxes of prescription drugs, tallying over 336 pounds of unwanted medications. In its three previous Take Back events, DEA and its partners took in almost a million pounds—nearly 500 tons—of pills.  

This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. 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. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.

Environmentalists have warned of increased levels of some chemicals originating with prescription drugs found in the nation’s water ways and in landfills. For that reason, simply throwing out the drugs or flushing them down the toilet is highly discouraged and both pose potential safety and health hazards.

The only thing we ask is that folks refrain from dropping off liquid medications, needles, lancets, pen needles, aerosol cans, infectious waste, IV bags, or thermometers. Pet medications are acceptable!  

We are thankful for ERASE, Inc. of of East Hartford (East of the River Action for Substance Abuse Elimination) who provided the drop box, free of charge. They currently assist a 15-town region in reducing and preventing substance abuse and related behaviors.

There will be an official ribbon cutting ceremony on Wednesday, May 9, at 10 a.m., and Mayor Leo Diana will be the first to publically drop medication in the box, along with Chief Marc Montminy!

The media and public are invited to participate in this event. Bring your unused and unwanted prescriptions and be some of the first to fill the box!