Take the lead in Lewisboro: Senator Terrence Murphy brings Shed the Meds Prescription Drop-off Program keeps hazardous drugs off the streets

Lewisboro, NY -  Statistics compiled by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention tell a compelling story - from 2000 to 2015, more than half a million people died from drug overdoses. That means that more than 90 Americans die every day from an opioid overdose.
 
Senator Terrence Murphy has taken action to help reduce the number of prescription overdoses through his Shed the Meds Prescription Drop-off Program. The program helps residents dispose of their outdated prescription drugs and keeps children, adults, and seniors safe. On August 29, Senator Murphy partnered with Westchester County Legislator Francis Corcoran, the Town of Lewisboro and the Lewisboro Police Department to host a Shed the Meds program at the new police department office on Bouton Road. Last year, the Senator's successful program took over 1,000 pounds of prescription drugs out of circulation. More than 250 pounds of prescription drugs were collected at the most recent Shed the Meds event in Yorktown.
 
"Each time we do a Shed the Meds program we take hundreds of pounds of drugs off the streets," said Senator Murphy. "We have a drug crisis engulfing the country, and we are thankful we have the support and assistance of local government and the police in order to extinguish this threat. Through Shed the Meds, education and law enforcement, we can win the war against drugs and keep our families and communities safe."
 
"Proper disposal of unwanted prescription medications is a crucial public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in homes are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse," said Westchester County Legislator Francis Corcoran. "By taking these medications off their hands, residents can be assured they have made their families and their community safer."
 
Lewisboro Town Councilman Peter DeLucia said, "The need for programs like Shed the Meds cannot be understated. As a Councilman and the Assistant Commissioner of the Westchester County Department of Health, I know how important it is to not only keep prescription drugs out of the hands of children but also out of our drinking water supply. I am proud to have been a part of bringing one of the first prescription drop-boxes in Westchester to our police station, and will continue to be a leader in our community's fight against drug abuse."
 
"The Shed the Meds program has been well received. It is a service that is well worth it," said Lewisboro Police Chief Charles Beckett. "For those who were unable to get to Shed the Meds, we have a collection box at our headquarters in Cross River that provides a safe way to dispose of drugs so that these toxic substances will not contaminate the environment or be a further danger to the community."
 
Safe disposal helps protect the environment and eliminates the risk of these drugs getting into the hands of small children or those who might misuse them. Improper disposal of medications, such as pouring them down the drain or flushing them down the toilet, can potentially pollute local waterways.
 
The next Shed the Meds prescription drop-off program will be held at the Carmel Town Hall, 60 McAlpin Avenue in Mahopac on Wednesday, September 6.
 
ALL SHED THE MEDS EVENTS ARE SCHEDULED TO RUN FROM 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.