Initiative to collect unwanted drugs

Unwanted prescription medicine can be disposed of free and anonymously Saturday, the Rockville Centre Police Department has announced.

Pills can be disposed of at the police department’s headquarters at 34 Maple Ave. from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The police department has partnered in this initiative with the Drug Enforcement Administration, a release from the department said. The DEA and its partners have seized almost 1 million pounds of pills in its last three Take Back events.

The plan is to help residents get rid of expired, unused or unwanted prescription drugs (to prevent drug abuse), the release said.

Police Lt. Christopher Romance said this was the third time the department was partnering with the DEA for a Take Back program.

In the release, Rockville Centre Police Commissioner Charles A. Gennario said it was a crucial time to have these programs as pill usage on Long Island increases.

“Prescription drug abuse is a major epidemic across the country,” he said. “Rockville Centre, like many other communities on Long Island, is facing an increased threat from narcotic abuse.”