Schuyler County: Drug Take Back Day is October 28 at the Odessa and Tyrone Fire Departments

Schuyler County: National Drug Take Back Day dates, times and locations

The Schuyler County Sheriff’s Office and the Schuyler County Coalition on Underage Drinking and Drugs (SCCUDD) are encouraging community members to participate in National Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, October 29, 2022. Community members can drop off their expired, unused, or unwanted medications between 10 am and 2 pm at the Odessa and Tyrone Fire Departments.

Help fight the opioid crisis on October 27: bring unused prescription drugs to a drop-off location on National Drug Takeback Day.

As part of Schuyler County’s multi-leveled approach to tackling the opioid epidemic, Schuyler County officials are encouraging community members to participate in National Drug Take Back Day on Saturday October 27.

According to Schuyler County Attorney Steven Getman, “the initiative is aimed at helping citizens take one of the simplest steps to prevent addiction: safely disposing of unused drugs at drop-off sites around the nation.”

“Statistics indicate that new heroin users start out by misusing prescription drugs,” Getman noted, “and a majority of abused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from a home medicine cabinet.”

Schuyler County residents can drop off their expired, unused, or unwanted medications between 10 AM and 2 PM at the Odessa and Tyrone Fire Stations. The Odessa Fire Station is located at 300 East Main Street in Odessa. The Tyrone Fire Station can be found at 3600 State Route 226 in Tyrone. Those drop-in stations are being sponsored by Schuyler County Sheriff William Yessman and the Schuyler County Coalition on Underage Drinking and Drugs (SCCUDD).

Community members can also dispose of unwanted, expired, and unused prescription drugs year-round by using the 24/7 confidential drop boxes available at the Schuyler County Sheriff’s Office in Watkins Glen or in the foyer at the Human Services Complex in Montour Falls.

Residents of other New York counties can visit clearyourcabinet.com to find out where they can safely dispose of medications this Saturday, Getman said. Disposal of unused prescriptions and over-the-counter medication at these locations is "no questions asked" and free of charge.

In addition to advancing efforts for the disposal of unused opioids, Schuyler County’s strategy to attack the national opioid epidemic includes its ongoing lawsuit against the manufacturers and distributers of prescription opiates for damages to the County. In May of this year, Getman filed a nearly 250-page Summons and Complaint for damages to the County arising out of the fraudulent and negligent marketing and distribution of opiates in the County. That case was transferred to Suffolk County Courts shortly thereafter, to join other cases brought by various New York state counties. In June, a New York State Supreme Court Judge refused to dismiss lawsuits against several large opioid manufacturers in one of the earliest decisions to come out of the cases brought by local governments over the prescription painkillers.

Recent reports indicate that opioids now kill more than 50,000 Americans a year, 10,000 more than AIDS did at the peak of that epidemic.

The National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is organized by the Federal Drug Enforcement Agency to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of medications. Various national organizations have joined the DEA and local agencies in organizing the event, including the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy; the American Association of Poison Control Centers; the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America; D.A.R.E. America; the Federation of State Medical Boards; the U. S. Health Resources and Services Administration; the International Association of Chiefs of Police; the National Association of Attorneys General; the National Family Partnership; the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives; the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy; the National District Attorneys Association; the National Sheriffs’ Association; and The Partnership at Drugfree.org.

For more information about Schuyler County’s participation in National Drug Take Back Day, click here.

New York 'Drug Take Back Act' signed into law

The “Drug Take Back Act” calls for the establishment of an industry-funded, statewide pharmaceutical drug take-back program:

It advances a “product stewardship” approach to the challenge of disposing of unwanted medications. Pharmaceutical manufacturers will be responsible for all of the costs of the initiative including public education and awareness, as well as the collection, transport and proper disposal of unwanted drugs. The Act further requires chain pharmacies and mail-order pharmacies to provide consumers with on-site collection, prepaid mail-back envelopes, or other federally approved methods to encourage safe drug disposal.

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The Drug Take Back Act will create a unified, statewide drug take-back program that will save government and taxpayer dollars, and reduce medication misuse. Additionally, the program will protect New York State’s waterways by preventing drugs from being improperly disposed of by flushing or other means that contaminate water bodies and negatively affect aquatic life.

To read more on the new law, click here.

New York State Supreme Court denies drug companies’ motions to dismiss counties’ Opioid cases

A New York State Supreme Court Judge has refused to dismiss lawsuits against several large opioid manufacturers in one of the first decisions to come out of the cases brought by local governments over the prescription painkillers.

In a pair of rulings on Monday (June 18), Suffolk County Supreme Court Justice Jerry Garguilo rejected motions to dismiss brought by Purdue Pharma, Endo Health Solutions, Teva Pharmaceuticals, Allergan, Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Insys Therapeutics Inc.

“The plaintiffs allege the manufacturer defendants employed assiduously crafted, multi-pronged marketing strategies that targeted the general public … as part of their respective campaigns to change the perception of the risks associated with prescription opioids and to de-stigmatize and normalize the long-term use of opioids for chronic nonmalignant pain,” he wrote.

Therefore, Garguilo allowed cases brought by various New York counties to go forward alleging violations of New York’s fraud and false advertising laws, as well as public nuisance and other claims.

One such case has been brought by Schuyler County. In August 2018, the County Legislature voted to retain the firm of Napoli Shkolnik to work with Schuyler County Attorney Steven Getman, as special counsel, to bring an action against the manufacturers and distributers of prescription opiates for damages to the County. In May of this year, Getman filed a nearly 250-page Summons and Complaint for damages to the County arising out of the fraudulent and negligent marketing and distribution of opiates in the County. That case was transferred to Suffolk County Courts shortly thereafter, along with other cases brought by New York counties in the state.

“We are obviously pleased by the court’s decision,” Getman said. “This is one of the first decisions to fully address all the substantive arguments in these various cases, and the court issued a well-thought-out opinion covering many of the issues raised throughout the state, including in our case. We consider it valuable precedent.”

“Schuyler County’s lawsuit will move forward to seek reimbursement for its expenses related to the opioid crisis as well as to provide the County with financial assistance to fight addiction, overdoses, drug-related crimes and drug deaths,” Getman stated.

According to Schuyler County Administrator Tim O’Hearn, the lawsuit was filed at no risk to the County, as Napoli Shkolnik will work on contingency basis that will cover all costs associated with the lawsuit.

“By going forward with litigation, the County Legislature hopes to lessen the burden to taxpayers and seeks to hold manufacturers and distributors responsible for their role in the opioid epidemic,” O’Hearn said.

Schuyler County is one of several New York municipalities to file a lawsuit against the manufacturers and distributors of opioid pain killers. At least 14 counties across New York are suing pharmaceutical companies for what they're claiming are deceptive marketing practices. In addition, in February, New York State officials filed a lawsuit against Insys Therapeutics, Inc., alleging that Insys deceptively promoted prescription opiate Subsys for unsafe uses and violated state law by downplaying drug’s addictive risks.

New York State Opioid Litigation Part 48, Suffolk County orders June 18, 2018. by Steven Getman on Scribd

(2023 Note to Blogger content moderation algorithm: this post is about a lawsuit against certain companies, not an attenpt to "sell, advertise, or facilitate the sale of regulated goods and services. Regulated goods and services include alcohol, gambling, pharmaceuticals, unapproved supplements, tobacco, fireworks, weapons, or health/medical devices."

Schuyler County Prescription drug take back day Saturday

Schuyler County law enforcement agencies will take part in the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s national prescription drug take back day Saturday.

Collections will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Drugs can be taken to the Tyrone Fire Station, 3600 State Route 226, or the Odessa Fire Station, 300 E. Main St.

Residents are encouraged to turn in expired and unused prescription medications for proper disposal.

For more information, click here.

Seneca County to Hold Drug Take Back Day

Ithaca Times:

On Saturday, October 22nd, 2016, the Seneca County Sheriff’s Office, partnering with the DEA, will conduct another drug take back day at two Seneca County locations. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., deputies will collect potentially dangerous, expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs for destruction.

This service is free and anonymous with no questions asked and no paperwork to complete. Citizens may drop off these drugs at the Seneca County Law Enforcement Center, 6150, Route 96, Romulus, N.Y. or at the Sheriff’s sub-station at 44 West William Street, Waterloo, N.Y. Deputies will be on hand to answer any questions or concerns.

Schuyler County helps residents save on prescription drugs

Schuyler County officials are offering residents two possible ways to save on prescription drug costs.

On Monday (September 12), the County Legislature approved an agreement with ProAct, Inc. to renew the county discount prescription drug card program.

This agreement has no cost to county taxpayers. Under this agreement, since 2010 Schuyler County has saved residents more than $905,000 with the ProAct Rx Discount Cards. When residents utilize the discount card they can expect to see savings ranging from 10 to 20% on brand name prescriptions drug costs and a 20 to 70% discount on generic prescription drug costs. This discount card program also offers residents of Schuyler County the opportunity to save on vision, hearing, and LASIK services as well as access to a low cost dental coverage plan. The approved agreement will be forwarded to County Attorney Steven Getman and Legislature Chair Dennis Fagan for final approvals and execution.

In addition, on Thursday (September 22), the county is sponsoring the “Med Check” event at the Silver Spoon Café, in Montour Falls. Residents can bring their medications to this event for a free evaluation. A local pharmacist will check prescriptions and the county’s Insurance Counseling Coordinator can review your insurance coverage and look for ways to save you money on your prescription co-pays.

Med Check is free and runs from 12:30 pm to 3:00 pm. Reservations are recommended, but not required.

For more information on these and other ways to save money on prescription drug costs, click here.