Members of the public, who want to properly dispose of prescription drugs which they no longer need or want, will be able to dispose of the medications at a drug take-back event scheduled for Saturday, September 27, at the Newtown Police Department, 3 Main Street, and also at the Connecticut State Police Troop A Barracks at 90 Lakeside Road, Southbury.

The event is scheduled for 10 am to 2 pm at both locations. This will be the ninth time the effort is being done on a national level.

The US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is sponsoring the project.

The drug take-back is intended to prevent pill abuse and theft of drugs. The collection accepts pills and patches.

The DEA cannot accept liquids, needles, and sharps.  

The Newtown police station lobby has a secure receptacle where the public can dispose of unwanted prescription drugs seven days a week, 24 hours a day.

The September 27 drug collection is free and anonymous, with no questions asked by police officers.

In May, the DEA reported, Americans nationwide had dropped off more prescription pills than ever during the eighth national event, conducted April 26.

After seven previous Take Back Days spread over almost four years, 780,158 pounds (390 tons) of pills were brought to the 6,072 collection sites that DEA and its 4,423 state, local, and tribal law enforcement partners set up. When added to that collected at previous DEA-coordinated Take-Back events, 4.1 million pounds (2,123 tons) of prescription medications have been removed from circulation.