National Drug Take-Back Initiative slated Sept. 25 at all Aroostook County police departments
By Natalie Bazinet
Staff Writer
CARIBOU — On Saturday, Sept. 25, approximately 100 out of the state’s 120 police departments will participate in the National Drug Take-Back Initiative; while participation in the program, orchestrated to create multiple drop-off points for individuals to properly dispose of prescription and non-prescription drugs with local law enforcement, may be new to some communities in Maine, residents of Aroostook County — particularly Caribou — have been properly disposing of hundreds of pounds of medicine for years.
According to Caribou Police Chief Michael Gahagan, this is just about the fourth year that the Caribou community has collectively taken measures to keep drugs off the streets and out of the ecosystem, preventing both safety and health hazards.
“All of Aroostook County has been disposing drugs through local law enforcement for years,” Chief Gahagan said, adding that participation in the national Take-Back program is nothing new for the community. “For us, it’s just a way of business.”
While ‘business’ is booming to the tune of 650 pounds of drugs collected in Caribou alone last year, proper drug disposal comes with a surprisingly large price tag. Even run-of-the-mill asprin becomes classified as hazardous material once it’s placed into the hands of law enforcement officials; the transportation and incineration of which is costly.
The price of properly disposing drugs may be high, but keeping both prescription and non-prescription substances in the correct hands is crucial for the safety and well-being of both the community and the environment.
“Studies show that the majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained through family members and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet,” Gahagan said.
With the national Take-Back program being funded through the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency at no cost to local departments — and Aroostook County police departments are involved — residents of The County can safely dispose of all their unused and expired medications safely on Sept. 25, as opposed to either flushing them down the toilet or throwing them away.
The Caribou Police Department will be holding Take-Back opportunities from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Caribou Health and Wellness Center and all hours every day of the year at the Caribou Police Department. The Limestone Police Department is also available year-round for drug disposal, but will be particularly open on the 25th from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
