National Drug Take Back Day

Police departments across the country, and across the Southcoast, will be taking part in a National Drug Take Back day on Saturday.

The event provides a way for those wishing to dispose of unused or expired medication to do so at their local police station.

Most people who take part do so to help prevent the drugs from getting in the hands of addicts.

However, Westport Police Sgt. Antonio Cestodio says that many participants also have environmental concerns.

"We also have people just turn in medications because they really don't want to put them in their septic systems or aren't really sure how to properly dispose of them," said Cestodio.

Cestodio says the town has been taking part for many years, during which time he has seen participation greatly increase.

"We have these individual boxes and when I first started doing this a few years back we'd get maybe two, three boxes," said Cestodio "I think the last one we did we had seven boxes of turned in prescription boxes that were turned into the DEA for destruction so we've really seen an increase."

Cestodio also says he's seen a wide variety of medications dropped off in their bins.

"I've had even over the counter medications come in and I've seen it as much as a woman come in with two large bottles of oxycotin liquid, so I can't imagine what the street value of that would have been," said Cestodio "but we see a big variation of these types of medicine."

Westport Police will be holding their collection event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Police Sub-Station on the side of Cumberland Farms at 596 State Rd.

For information on events going on in your town contact your local police department