L-R: Police Lt. John Ewanciw; Kelly Ocasio of the
Middletown
Cares Coalition; Mayor Joseph DeStefano; the Middletown
Cares Coalition Bear, in front of City Hall
MIDDLETOWN – Residents of the City of Middletown now have a means to dispose of unused and unwanted prescription drugs. Those drugs often pose a threat by sitting in a medicine cabinet as other family members may be tempted to abuse them.
The Middletown Cares Coalition funded a $695 pharmaceutical drop box, which is now in the police station lobby. Drugs may be dropped off in the receptacle any time 24-hours a day.
The new device is the latest component of the mission of the coalition, said Kelly Ocasio, the program coordinator.
“Our work as the Middletown Cares Coalition is to develop an alcohol and drug-free community for our youth and we do so through education, community outreach and engaging stakeholders that help support our mission,” Ocasio said.
Mayor Joseph DeStefano said until now, Middletown residents had to drive five miles to State Police Troop F Headquarters on Crystal Run Road in the Town of Wallkill for the nearest drug collection unit.
In addition to eliminating the temptation of relatives abusing prescription
drugs kept at home, using the Dropbox is also an environmental means of
disposal instead of flushing them down the toilet, which pollutes water
supplies.
Police Lt. John Ewanciw said drugs collected will be added to those confiscated by the department in criminal cases and brought to a Dutchess County facility for incineration.
