Prescription Drug Collection to Take Place in Syosset

Oyster Bay Town Supervisor John Venditto announced that the Town will hold a collection program for expired and unwanted prescription medications on Sunday, May 16, at the Town's Department of Public Works, 150 Miller Place, Syosset, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

This program, open to Town residents, is being run with the cooperation of Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano, District Attorney Kathleen Rice, the Nassau County Police Department, and the Nassau County Heroin Task Force.

"Managing unused medications is an environmental, as well as a safety concern," Supervisor Venditto said. "Traditionally, we had been told to flush unwanted medications down the drain or toilet rather than keeping them around, where they could wind up being misused. We now know that flushing creates a new and growing problem in the environment.... Additionally, recent statistics indicate that one in five teens reports intentionally misusing someone else's prescription drugs. Nearly half said they got the medications from friends and relatives for free, often by raiding the family medicine cabinet."

The program is only for solid medications such as pills and capsules; no liquids will be accepted. All confidential information should be removed, leaving only the name of the medication in the original container. 

For more information, call the Department of Environmental Resources at 677-5943.