Prescription Controlled Drug/ non-Controlled Drug Program up and running at the North Hampton Police Department
The Police Department is looking for drugs. Yes you read it correctly! Whether you are a resident or non-resident, we really need you to take part in our new Prescription Controlled Drug/non-Controlled over the counter drug drop-off program that we put in place in mid December. Why is this so important? Studies since 2009 have shown that not only are we doing considerable damage to our water supplies by flushing old medications down toilets or dumping them down drains, but over time our landfills slowly are releasing the effects of dangerous prescription and non-prescription drugs that were thrown in the trash, only to be released into the environment from the landfills where the trash is buried. This is a trend that we need to
end immediately to ensure that adults and children alike are not put in danger by drinking water from private and public water supplies that are becoming tainted with extremely dangerous medications.
Still not convinced to take part in our program? If you need more convincing keep this in mind. There are home burglaries taking place across our state where the culprits are taking your prescription and non-prescription drugs along with your televisions, computers, and jewelry. If you are lucky enough not to have this happen do you want to take the chance of a loved one, or children in the home gaining possession of stored drugs that are no longer needed, only to see them seriously harmed by them or possibly even killed by an errant overdose? The abuses and overdoses caused by prescription drugs has become a national epidemic and we all need to do our part in preventing this problem from getting worse than it already is.
For these reasons we badly need you to take part in our program that allows you to anonymously drop prescription controlled drugs and non-controlled over the counter drugs in a drop box that is now located in the police department lobby. This is an anonymous program and no questions will be asked relative to the surrender of these types of drugs. Your items can be left at any time during business hours which absent holidays or weekends, is 8:00 am to 4:30 pm daily. Outside of these hours you only need to call 679-2225 to contact our dispatch center in Brentwood and inform them what time you would like to gain access to the box and a police officer will respond to the station and unlock the front door. At no time will you be required
to leave a name or phone number or provide any personal information.
Packaging and preparation of the items is easy. If you want to turn in any capsules, pills, or patch medications you may leave them in the in the original prescription container, but make sure you either use a marker to hide any identifying information on the label, or simply empty the items from the original containers into a one quart Ziploc bag. As far as liquids, creams, and lotions are concerned we do ask those remain in their original containers with the any identifying information blacked out with a marker or the labels removed. These original containers will need to be placed in a one quart Ziploc bag to ensure none of the medications empty out into the drop box. If there are further questions relative to the preparation and
packaging of drug items feel free to call us at the police department and we will assist you in giving you information on how to safely dispose of all of your prescription controlled and non-controlled over the counterdrug item(s).
Keep in mind items such as Cocaine, Methamphetamines, Bath Salts, Spice, Marijuana, Heroin, and all other illegal drugs CANNOT be deposited into our drop box. If you discover any of these types of drugs that you want to turn in, you will need to speak with a police officer pursuant State and Federal Laws. Federal and State Law also prohibit the acceptance of sharps in our drop box such as Syringes, Lancets or Needles. Sharps of this type can be disposed of by contacting the NH Syringe Access Initiative at (603)271-0290, the SHARPS (Store Household Sharps and Return them Properly) Program at (800)-628-8070, or at the New Hampshire Department of Transportation Sharps Program at (603)485-3806.
Please do not violate these rules put in place under New Hampshire and Federal Law. Habitual violations of these rules will only result in the Drug Enforcement Administration and the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office rescinding our permission to have the drop box in our lobby. Thank you very much in advance for any assistance you can give us by bringing in your prescriptions and non-controlled over the counter drugs.
We look forward to taking your drugs!!!!
Brian P. Page Chief of Police
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