Local Drug Collection Boxes

N.O.P.E. Campaign

- Over-the-counter medications

- Prescription medications

- Medication samples

- Medications for household pets

- Medicated lotions or ointments

- Medicamentos sin receta

- Medicamentos con receta

- Muestras de medicamentos

- Medicamentos para mascotas domésticas

- Lociones o ungüentos medicinales

Naugatuck Valley Overdose Prevention & Education

Valley residents including, elderly, homebound, or those with transportation

difficulties may contact the Naugatuck Valley Health District by calling

203-881-3255 to obtain a safe medication disposal pouch free of cost and

while supplies last.

NVHD currently has a limited supply of Deterra Drug Deactivation System

pouches in sizes medium and large.

Deterra will deactivate any organic medications including opioids.

However, it will not adsorb any metals such as Iron or lithium contained

in a small number of medications. If your medication has specific disposal

instructions, please follow the directions as given.

Each Deterra pouch contains a water-soluble inner pod containing

proprietary MAT12® activated carbon.

Once the drugs are placed in the pouch, add warm water from your sink faucet.

This will dissolve the inner pod releasing the activated carbon.

Deterra works on pills, patches and liquids, allowing them to be adsorbed

by the carbon, rendering them inert and non-retrievable.

For more information about Deterra, please visit their website by clicking here.

The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection provides the following guidance if you need to dispose of drugs in your home.

Dispose of drugs in your household trash by doing the following:

1. Keep the medication in its original container. Use a permanent marker or duck tape to cross out your personal information, or remove the label.

2. Make medication less appealing. Mix your drugs (liquid or pills) with hot water to dissolve them. Add an undesirable substance, such as salt, ashes, saw dust, used coffee grounds or kitty litter.

3. Contain and seal. Place it inside a container such as an empty yogurt or margarine tub to ensure that the contents cannot be seen and tape it shut

4. Throw out the container in your trash can. Do not put the container in your recycling bin!

Why Not Flush?
Flushed medications can get into our lakes, rivers and streams.

Research has shown that continuous exposure to low levels of medications

has altered the behavior and physiology of fish and aquatic organisms.

Pharmaceuticals enter our wastewater from a variety of sources, including the flushing of

unused medications. A nationwide study done in 1999 and 2000 by the United States Geological

Survey (USGS) found low levels of drugs such as antibiotics, hormones, contraceptives and

steroids in 80% of the rivers and streams tested.

http://www.ct.gov/dcp/cwp/view.asp?a=1620&Q=444606&PM=1

Did you know that you can safely drop off prescription medication at local Police Departments? These boxes are secured in the lobby of the police department, and are accessible anytime the department is open.

No paperwork, no questions asked, just drop the approved unwanted medications in and they will be safely and securely destroyed.

What happens to the medication?
The most common method of rendering pharmaceutical controlled substances non-retrievable is incineration. See the table below for the amount of medication burned (lbs) in CT by year.

YES

Local Drug Collection Boxes

AKA Medication Drop Boxes

For a complete list of active drop box programs in Connecticut,

please visit the Department of Public Health Local Drug Collection Boxes website here.

Effective July 8, 2019: The CT Department of Consumer Protection can also approve 50 prescription drug drop boxes in retail pharmacies each year. Please see CT Regulations §§ 20-576a-1—20-576a-7 under Title 20 which includes information on the Department of Consumer Protection's Return of Prescription Drugs to Pharmacies.

What CAN and CANNOT be discarded in local drug collection boxes

Qué SE PUEDE y qué NO SE PUEDE meter en los buzones de recogida de medicamentos