KINGSTON – The Ulster County Sheriff’s Office Prescription
Medication Drop-Off Program collected roughly 335 pounds of prescription
medication in 2015. The program provides people a place to dispose of
their unused prescription medications instead of flushing them down the
drain or throwing them in the garbage where they can contaminate groundwater.
Sheriff Paul Van Blarcum noted that prescription drug abuse is on the
rise across the county. Prescription drugs such as painkiller can be highly
addictive and every bit as dangerous as street drugs, he said.
Fatal drug overdoses are now the primary cause of death due to unintentional
injury in the US, exceeding even motor vehicle deaths, according to the
US Centers for Disease Control.
To help stop prescription drugs from falling into the wrong hands, take
advantage of prescription drug boxes after the prescribed patient no longer
need them. Parents should consider locking up prescription drugs in their
home to protect their children.
