Senator Gallivan Encourages Western New Yorkers to Participate in the National Prescription Drug Drop-Off

The National Prescription Drug Drop-Off will be hosting “drive-in, drop-off” programs at sites throughout Western New York this month. Senator Patrick M. Gallivan is strongly encouraging area residents who have any excess, unused, or expired prescription medications, or over-the-counter drugs, to take advantage of this opportunity to safely and securely dispose of them.

“Prescription drug abuse is quickly becoming an epidemic across the United States and Western New York is far from immune. Prescription drug abuse is the leading narcotic problem in the region and far too often the supply of these dangerous substances is coming from our own medicine cabinets,” said Senator Gallivan. “The National Prescription Drug Drop Off program offers citizens a quick and convenient way to dispose of any unwanted or unused prescription medications they may have in their homes, ensuring potentially dangerous medications don’t fall into the wrong hands.”

Western New Yorkers can drop of any unused or unwanted prescriptions – no questions asked – at any one of the 28 “drive-in, drop-off” sites across the region between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM Saturday, April, 28th, 2012.

Erie County

• Bertrand Chaffee Hospital - 224 East Main Street, Springville NY

• Buffalo State College - 1300 Elmwood Ave., Lot “C”, Buffalo, NY 14222

• Buffalo & Erie County Botanical Gardens - 2655 South Park Ave., Buffalo, NY 14218

• Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital - 1540 Maple Road, Williamsville

• Kenmore Mercy Hospital - 2950 Elmwood Ave., Kenmore NY

• Mercy Ambulatory Care Center - 3669 Southwestern Blvd., Orchard Park NY

• North Collins Police Department - 10543 Main Street, North Collins NY 14111

• Sisters of Charity, St. Joseph's Campus - 2605 Harlem Road, Cheektowaga NY

• Twin District Volunteer Fire Company - 4999 William Street, Lancaster NY

• West Herr Collision Center - 5140 Camp Road, Hamburg NY

• West Seneca Senior Center - 460 Seneca Street, West Seneca NY

• Grand Island Town Hall - 2255 Baseline Road, Grand Island NY

Wyoming County

• Wyoming County Sheriff’s Office -151 North Main Street, Warsaw, NY

• Arcade Police HQ - 17 Church Street, Arcade, NY

Genesee County

• Batavia Police Dept. - 10 West Main Street, NY

• LeRoy Police Dept. - 3 West Main Street LeRoy NY

• Pembroke Town Highway Barns - Routes 5 and 77, Pembroke, NY

Orleans County

• Holley Fire Department - 7 Thomas St, Holley, NY

• Medina Fire Department - 600 Main St, Medina, NY

• 400 Public Safety Building - 13925 State Route 31, Albion, NY

In February, Senator Gallivan took part in an official roundtable addressing New York’s prescription drug abuse crisis. The Roundtable included doctors, pharmacists, medical professionals, addiction specialists, law enforcement officials, drug abuse prevention organizations, and parents of victims whose deaths were attributed to prescription drug abuse.

Senator Gallivan also played an integral role in passing a series of bills through the Senate designed to curb drug abuse in New York.

• S.5880A – Places greater controls on highly addictive opioids, Hydrocodone and Tramadol.

• S.5260C – Increases criminal penalties for doctors and pharmacists who illegally divert prescriptions medications, protecting consumers and Medicaid dollars, while punishing offenders.

• S.6066 – Specifically addresses “pill mills” by creating a new crime: criminal sale of a controlled substance by a practitioner or pharmacist.

• S.3210B – Reclassifies the first-degree illegal sale of a controlled substance to a minor under the age of 14, making it a class A-II felony.

Additional information can be found at NationalPrescriptionDrugDropOff.com

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