Allegany County Participates in DEA's Spring Pill Drop

April 27, the Allegany Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, Inc(ACASA), the Allegany County Sheriff's Office, and Partners for Prevention in Allegany County(PPAC) held two pill drop locations at the Belfast Fire Department and at the YMCA's Healthy Kids Day in Wellsville. Between the two locations there were 14 cars with a total of 19 pounds of medications collected. The low amount of medications collected could be because of the poor weather on Saturday, but more likely because of the Take It To The Box program, which has placed 10 pill drop boxes throughout Allegany County. So, far in 2019 the boxes have collected 830 pounds of medications, which the Allegany County Sheriff's Office transports to an incinerating location to be rendered harmless to the environment.

"Even though there was not much activity with the pill drop, it was beneficial to be at Healthy Kids Day where Undersheriff Kevin Monroe educated families about prescription safety and where the pill drop boxes are located," states Coalition Coordinator Jonathan Chaffee. The Take It To The Box messaging is used in Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Allegany, Erie and Niagara Counties. "Having the same messaging throughout multiple counties is beneficial to build community education and awareness" states Chaffee.

The pill drop boxes are located at: Alfred Pharmacy, Alfred State University Campus Police, the Allegany County Sheriff's Office and NIcholson's Pharmacy in Belmont, Jones Memorial Medical Practice in Bolivar, Cuba Police Department, Fillmore Pharmacy, Friendship Pharmacy, Jones Memorial Hospital in Wellsville, and the Wellsville Police Department.

When using the pill drop boxes please do not deposit loose pills, liquids, or needles in the drop boxes. Animal medications can be put in the box. Getting rid of unused or unwanted medications properly is important, so they do not find their way into our waterways, on our streets, or the hands of our youth.

The group is currently working on getting two more boxes in outlying areas in Allegany County. For more information visit https://ppaccentral.org/pill-drops/. The next pill drop event will be held in October, locations have not been determined. If you would like a pill drop event held in your community please email ppac@alleganycouncil.org. Remember Prevention Works!