New medication disposal unit at Warwick Police Department well received

WARWICK — "The box is already full."
That was a recent report by Chief Thomas McGovern, Jr. on the amazing success of the new medication disposal unit now in the lobby of the Town of Warwick Police Department at 132 Kings Highway.
The collection unit award was the result of close collaboration between CVS Pharmacy's Drug Disposal for Safer Communities, The Partnership for Drug Free Kids, The New York National Guard Counterdrug Task Force, the Warwick Valley Prevention Coalition and of Warwick Police.
On Thursday, July 28, local officials and representatives of those organizations assembled for a formal presentation of the collection unit award at police headquarters.
The CVS medication disposal unit had been on site for approximately two weeks.
Residents can now dispose of their household drugs at any time on any day or night, no questions asked.
Acceptable items are prescriptions, prescription patches, prescription medications, prescription ointments, over-the-counter medications, vitamins, sample medications and medications for pets.
No sharps, needles, aerosols, inhalers or liquids are allowed at this time.
"Orange County has the highest rate of overdose deaths in New York State so anyway we can contribute to stopping those deaths is explored in our meetings," said Annie Colonna, director of Prevention Services at the Warwick Valley Community Center. " People have already been bringing in their unwanted and unused medicines to the police station and the disposal unit is well-used. We will also be reaching out to doctors and pharmacies to let them know we have the unit so they can inform their patients."
The Warwick Valley Prevention Coalition facilitated the application for the free unit with Lt. John Rader.
"It was all the sectors working together that made it happen," said Colonna.
- Roger Gavan