Prescription drug take-back program a success

by State Senator John A. DeFrancisco

I’m pleased to announce that more than 50 lbs of expired or unused medications were collected in just a few hours during my 13th annual Senior Fair, which took place on Sept. 19 at the New York State Fairgrounds.

The collection was part of a prescription drug take-back program that I highlighted at this year’s Senior Fair, in partnership with the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office and the Upstate New York Poison Center through the SNADD (Sharps Needles and Drug Disposal) Program. Seniors were able to safely dispose of their unwanted and expired drugs by placing them in a special collection box that was located at the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office table within the Senior Fair.

The SNADD Program of Onondaga County was established in 2015 to help reduce the risk of ingestion, exposure, and abuse of drugs in our community. The program does this by providing the public with a safe way to dispose of expired or unwanted prescription drugs.

If you were unable to attend my Senior Fair, and would like to dispose of your unwanted medications to help save the environment from these pollutants, the SNADD Program operates year-round. Various police departments and colleges throughout Onondaga County serve as collection sites, during regular business hours, for both over- the-counter and prescription medications. Some of these locations include Onondaga Community College and SUNY ESF, and police departments in Baldwinsville, Camillus, Cicero, DeWitt, Geddes, Jordan, Manlius, Marcellus, Solvay, and Syracuse. For more information, please feel free to call my district office at 315-428-7632 or visit defrancisco.nysenate.gov.

My annual Senior Fair is a free event for Central New York senior citizens and their caregivers. Those who attend have the opportunity to speak directly with state and local representatives and service providers about various issues including healthcare, long-term care, transportation, recreation, housing, and the like. Each year, my Senior Fair attracts hundreds of seniors in search of local resources. I always enjoy holding this event and helping seniors enhance their quality of life.