Mansfield Participating in National Prescription Drug Take Back Day

The Mansfield Resident State Trooper's Office will join with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Saturday to give area residents the opportunity to dispose of old and unused prescription drugs.

The Resident State Trooper's Office, located at 4 South Eagleville Rd. in the Audrey P. Beck Municipal Building, will be open to residents from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Sept. 29.

"Utilizing a Take Back program is the safest way to dispose of old drugs," Sgt. Richard Cournoyer of the Mansfield Resident State Trooper's Office, said.

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This is the first time in recent memory that Mansfield has served as a collection site, Cournoyer said.

Prescription drug abuse is one of the nation's fastest growing drug problems, Attorney General George Jepsen said.

"By partnering with our local and state law enforcement through National Take Back Day, the DEA has made it easy for Connecticut residents to help join the effort to reduce prescription drug abuse in our state," Jepsen said in a prepared statement.

According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 90 percent of addictions start in a person's teenage years.

Jill Spineti, president and CEO of the Governor’s Prevention Partnership, said the drug disposal program would help reduce drug abuse in youths.

“We also remind parents and caregivers to have open communication with their children and to remain vigilant throughout the teenage years, so that misuse or abuse of medicine can be avoided," she said in a prepared statement.

In the last four Take Back events, the DEA and its partners have collected nearly 775 tons of medication, according to a news release.

For more information, contact the Mansfield Resident State Trooper's Office at 860-429-6024.