This Saturday October 29th is one of two annual Prescription Drug Take Back Days sponsored by the national Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The event is a good reminder that safe storage and disposal of unused prescription drugs can help to keep our loved ones, environment and waterways safe.

In the West River Valley, you can find a secure drop off kiosk inside Messenger Valley Pharmacy (170 Grafton Rd, Townshend, open Saturdays 8am – 2pm). A full list of other locations in Windham County include:

• Windham County Sheriff's Office - 185 Old Ferry Rd, Brattleboro, VT 05301
• Brattleboro Police Dept.- 62 Black Mtn Rd #101, Brattlerboro
• Brattleboro Memorial Hospital- 17 Belmont Ave, Brattleboro
• Bellows Falls Police Dept.- 170 Rockingham St, Bellows Falls
• Wilmington Police Department- 2 E. Main St, Wilmington
• Dover Police Department- 245 VT 100, Dover

Please keep in mind the DEA cannot accept needles or sharps. Collect your expired or unused Rx pills, patched lotions, pet medications or vitamins in their original bottle or place them in a disposable bag. Be sure to remove or cover your personal information. Anonymously drop your medications in an Rx drug drop box near you.
While official Take Back Days occur in October and April, anytime is a good time to clean out unused medications responsibly. If getting to a kiosk is difficult or inconvenient, Request a Free Medication Mail-Back Envelope, from the Vermont Department of Health.

To learn more about simple ways to keep prescription drugs and other controlled substances stored safely in your home, check out our Talk Track Secure resource at www.windhampartnership.org.

For more information on Take Back Day, Talk Track Secure or other ways you can help West River Valley families thrive, visit West River Valley Thrives at www.wrvthrives.org, or email us wrvthrives@gmail.com