New Prescription Drug Drop Box Available in Police Station Lobby

Hamilton Police Sgt. Stephen Trepanier stands with the new prescription drop box in the lobby at the Hamilton Police Station at 265 Bay Road.

A new drug collection box is now available in the lobby at the Hamilton Police Department, where residents can safely dispose of expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs.

The drop off box is a safe and secure location for Hamilton residents to get rid of unwanted medications 24-hours a day, according to Hamilton Police Chief Russell Stevens.

The drug box is part of an effort to reduce access to prescription drugs for teenagers, who report they can easily obtain prescription pills from medicine cabinets in their own or other people’s homes, according to Stevens. Unused and out-of-date medicines are also danger because of the chance of theft and misuse. Additionally, flushing medications down the sink or toilet can contaminate the water supply, Stevens said.

This drop box is open to anyone for free and will accept almost all unwanted prescription drugs but syringes cannot be placed in the drop box under any circumstances. Medications in standard containers and loose medication in plastic bags can be deposited in the box as well as liquid medications, which need to be in secure containers and placed in a plastic bag before being dropped in the box. All of the prescription drugs placed in the box will be legally and safely disposed.

Hamilton Police Sgt. Stephen Trepanier and Officer Matthew Donovan, along with the Essex County District Attorney’s Office, helped get the MedReturn drop box for the Hamilton Police Department through the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.