Bethel Police Hosting Drug Take Back Event Tomorrow

According to a release from the Bethel Police Department, residents will have an opportunity to safely get rid of unwanted or expired prescription medications this Saturday, October 24 (tomorrow), during a special Drug Take Back event.

The event will take place at the Bethel Police Department, located at 12 Judd Avenue, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. And that time window is strict, so don't roll up at 2:15 expecting someone to take your old medication off your hands. Police say they cannot accept drop-offs outside the scheduled hours.

The goal is to keep unused medications from ending up in the wrong hands while also protecting the environment. If you've got prescription drugs sitting in a cabinet that you haven't touched in years, this is a good opportunity to clear them out safely instead of letting them collect dust until your next move.

There are a few important rules to keep in mind before heading over. Prescription medications will be accepted, but needles and other sharp objects cannot be dropped off at the event. Certain radioactive medications, which are sometimes used in cancer treatment, are also prohibited because of state regulations and officer safety concerns.

And if you're cleaning out more than just your medicine cabinet, the police department has provided additional information about disposing of needles, other sharps, and vape pens properly. Those items require different disposal methods, so don't just toss them into your household garbage or recycling bin. Lithium batteries in e-cigarettes can cause fires if they're damaged, while improperly discarded needles can create safety risks for sanitation workers and other people handling the waste.

So, if you've been meaning to clean out that medicine cabinet, Saturday is your chance to get it done responsibly.

Get to this event if you can. But if you can't, just bring me your drugs on your free time and mission: still accomplished. Kidding, of course. Please dispose of them properly!