On Saturday, October 28, Newtown Police Department and other law enforcement agencies nationwide will be partnering with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for the 25th Drug Take Back Day.

The local police department will additionally be conducting a gun buyback that same day, operating from 10 am until 1 pm.

The public can visit the department’s headquarters, at 191 South Main Street, and drop off expired, unwanted, and unused prescription medications.

The DEA and Newtown Police Department officers will accept tablets, capsules, patches, and other solid forms of prescription drugs.

Liquids, including intravenous solutions; syringes and other sharps; and illegal drugs will not be accepted.

The service is free and anonymous. No questions will be asked.

Drug Take Back Days are conducted twice a year, in April and October.

In April 2023 — the most recent Drug Take Back event — there was participation by 4,497 law enforcement agencies, including 98 in Connecticut. More than 663,000 pounds (332-plus tons) of prescription medications were collected among 4,955 collection sites.

Cumulatively, 17,300,454 pounds (8,650 tons) of expired, unwanted, and unused prescription medications have been collected since the launch of this program.

Newtown Police Department currently does not have a drug drop box in its lobby.

Since July 2018, pharmacies in Connecticut have been authorized to dispose of prescription medications. No Newtown pharmacies currently have Drug Drop Boxes, according to Newtown PD, but local pharmacies will assist customers with the safe disposal of medications.

The DEA and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have also posted instructions for safe disposal for medications in the trash at home. Learn more at DEAtakeback.com.

Gun Buyback

The 3rd Annual #KeepKidsSafe Connecticut Statewide Gun Buyback and Gun Safe Giveaway Day will take place concurrently at eight locations across the state.

There are 400 million civilian-owned guns in America, according to organizers and sponsors. Guns kill over 40,000 Americans and injure thousands more in a single year. Firearms are now the leading cause of death for American children and teens. Gun violence is a public health crisis that requires a comprehensive solution.

According to the American Pediatric Association, a gun-free home is the safest home for children and teens. Studies show having a gun in the home doubles an individual’s risk for homicide and triples the risk of suicide.

The gun buyback and gun safe giveaway day is a community safety initiative that will help gun owners and their family members dispose of unwanted and/or unsecured guns to help reduce the risk of homicides, suicides, unintentional shootings, domestic violence, and keep guns from getting into the wrong hands — such as children, individuals who may be facing a mental health crisis, individuals with dementia, perpetrators of domestic violence, and criminals.

The buybacks will provide gift cards to individuals who turn in an operable firearm.

Guns must be transported in the trunk of the car. Non-operable guns, BB guns, and ammunition are welcome, but no gift cards will be exchanged for these items.

Buyback prices offered are $25 for single and double shot (Derringer-style) handguns and any type of black powder guns; $50 for rifles and shotguns; $100 for pistol and revolver handguns; and $200 for assault weapons (per Connecticut summary of gun laws, to be determined by police).

Newly sawed-off shotguns will not be accepted.

Guns must be delivered unloaded in clear plastic bags, and any ammunition must be delivered in a separate bag in the trunk of the car. Please note, COVID-19 guidelines will be strictly enforced. All participants must wear a mask and comply with all social distancing guidelines.

Participating organizations supporting this year’s program include Newtown Action Alliance Foundation, The Ethan Miller Song Foundation, Humanium Metal, CT Violence Intervention Program, Mothers United Against Violence, Waterbury Hospital, Saint Mary’s Hospital, Waterbury PAL, Project Longevity-Waterbury, City of Waterbury, Saint Francis Hospital, Yale New Haven Hospital, CT Children’s Medical Center, Midstate Medical Center, CT Against Gun Violence Education Fund, Guilford Police Department, Hartford Police Department, Meriden Police Department, Middletown Police Department, Newtown Police Department, Norwalk Police Department, Stamford Police Department, and Waterbury Police Department.

The Campaign to Keep Kids Safe (CKKS) was established in 2019 by the Newtown Action Alliance Foundation and the Ethan Miller Song Foundation as an educational program for parents, educators & health care professionals to reduce unintentional shootings among children and childhood gun suicides and homicides in America; to provide gun safes to gun owners; and promote community gun buyback opportunities.

CKKS encourages communities to host voluntary gun buyback and biometric gun safe giveaway events to offer an opportunity for gun owners to remove unwanted weapons safely from their homes and communities and help to promote gun safety and safe firearm storage practices.