North Shore-LIJ Hospitals and the Drug Enforcement Adminstration are running a drug disposal day Saturday.
Residents can get rid of their leftover prescription drugs by dropping them off at one of the system's locations around Long Island or in New York.
Two sites, Southside Hospital in Bay Shore and LIJ Medical Center in New Hyde Park, will offer drive-in, drop-off service. The "Take Back" initiative is free and anonymous.
The hospital system said that since Drug Take Back Day began in 2010, the public has turned in 1,344 pounds of prescription drugs at its locations. The goal is to eliminate drug misuse and prevent environmental hazards caused by flushing them down a toilet or throwing them into the trash.
“Prescription drug abuse is the fastest growing problem in our society and can have deadly consequences,” said Michael Dowling, president and CEO of the North Shore-LIJ Health System. “By offering our hospitals as locations for the safe removal and disposal of unused medicines, we are addressing a vital public safety and health issue and eliminating what many believe is the first step in the cycle of abuse.”
The sites accepting the drugs are:
Huntington Hospital and Southside Hospital in Bay Shore,
and Bethpage Immediate Care Facility, Plainview, Syosset and Glen Cove Hospitals, Franklin Hospital in Valley Stream, North Shore University in Manhasset, and LIJ Medical Center (including – LIJ Hospital, The Zucker Hillside, Cohen Children’s Medical Center of New York) in New Hyde Park.
New York City Locations: Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan and Staten Island University Hospital (North and South campuses).
