Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan Provides Drug Collection Units for Four Communities

WOBURN – Thirty-six Communities Have Benefited from MDAO Drug Take Back Program

Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan announces today that residents of Ashland, Bedford, Sudbury, and Townsend now have access to safe, free disposal of unwanted or expired prescription drugs as part of the Middlesex Drug Take-Back Program, a county-wide effort to reduce prescription drug abuse and addiction.

The Middlesex District Attorney’s Office purchased a MedReturn Drug Collection Unit for the four communities using drug forfeiture funds.  These funds may be used by the District Attorney’s office for drug rehabilitation, drug education and other anti-drug efforts. 

“Middlesex County and the entire Commonwealth have been battling a frightening epidemic of drug abuse.  We have a seen an increase in overdoses and fatal overdoses due  in part to an influx of heroin that is believed to be laced with fentanyl, a powerful drug that can cause respiratory failure,” District Attorney Ryan said.  “There is a direct connection between illegal prescription drug abuse and heroin use.  Many people who start abusing painkillers and other medications often find themselves turning to heroin for a cheaper, stronger high.  The drug collection unit is one prevention measure that can be very effective in ensuring that children and teens do not have access to powerful prescription narcotics that could lead them down a path toward addiction.”

In addition to purchasing Drug Collection Units, District Attorney Ryan has developed programs educating young people about the dangers of drug use, is working to expand treatment opportunities for those battling addiction, as well as prosecuting those responsible for bringing drugs into our communities.

Thirty-six communities in Middlesex County have received a drug collection through the District Attorney’s program since 2012.

“Reducing the amount of unwanted and unused prescription medications is a crucial piece of our community’s overall strategy in preventing substance abuse,” Ashland Chief Craig Davis said.  “We are grateful for our partnership with the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office for this initiative.  The Drug Take Back Box is not only an important tool in keeping unsafe substances out of the hands of our youth, it is also a tangible representation that many agencies and disciplines must work together to fight this epidemic.”
 
“I am proud to offer the MedReturn Drug Collection service in the Town of Bedford. It is vital that unused prescription drugs are properly disposed of so that they do not end up in the wrong hands,” Bedford Chief Robert Bongiorno said. “Anyone with unwanted or expired prescription drugs can come by the police station, 24 hours a day, and there are no questions asked. This is something that Bedford residents have been asking for, and it will be a great resource to our community. It is important that people have a resource like this to prevent controlled substances from potentially harming people instead of helping people. I want to thank District Attorney Ryan for helping to make this program possible.”

“I am appreciative of the opportunity provided by District Attorney Ryan and look forward to a continued partnership,” Sudbury Chief Scott Nix said.  “This is but one of many initiatives to benefit residents, in particular our youth.”

Along with the statewide surge in heroin, prescription drug abuse remains an epidemic.  This year in Middlesex County, more than 40 people have died of drug overdoses including heroin and opiates, which include prescription drugs.

A National Institute on Drug Abuse study released in January 2014 found that 52 million people over age 12 have used prescription drugs non-medically in their lifetime.  Additionally, 54 percent of people who use prescription drugs say they obtain them free from friends or family, and another 16 percent say they bought or stole the drugs from a friend or relative.  More than 62 percent of teens surveyed said prescription drugs are easy to get from their parents’ medicine cabinet.

Every day, on average, 2,500 teens use prescription drugs to get high for the first time, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration.  The DEA also reports that 56 percent of teens say prescription drugs are easier to get than illicit drugs.  Two in five teens believe that prescription drugs are safer than illegal drugs.

Middlesex County is the largest county in Massachusetts and one of the largest counties in the country with 54 towns and cities and 26 colleges in urban, suburban, and rural areas, comprising over one quarter of the population of Massachusetts.  The Middlesex District Attorney’s Office has offices throughout the county, including communities such as Ayer, Cambridge, Concord, Framingham, Lowell, Malden, Marlborough, Newton, Somerville, Waltham and Woburn.