Rates of prescription drug misuse in the United States are consistently high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. The National Survey on Drug Use and Health shows that a majority of misused prescription drugs are being obtained from family and friends, including those from home medicine cabinets. 

The Cortland County Drug Disposal Program was created to address this and ensure the Cortland County residents have a convenient way to dispose of unwanted, unused medications. Here are some reasons why you should regularly dispose of these medications through the Program:

Protect Young Children

Protect young children by storing your medicines securely at home.  When you have medicines that are expired or unwanted, safely dispose of them right away. Keeping unneeded medication around the house increases the risk of accidental poisonings and throwing medications in the trash also creates a risk- you never know what a toddler can find! 

Protect Pets

Everyone loves their pets- they are often just as much “part of the family” as humans are. Human medications are the number one cause of pet poisonings. Protect your pets by choosing safe disposal and not putting them in the trash. 

Protect the Environment 

When medications are flushed down the toilet or thrown in the trash, they can get into our water supply and soil, harming the environment. Medicines that are flushed or poured down the drain can end up polluting our waters, impacting aquatic species, and contaminating our food and water supplies.  Did you know that scientists have found medicines in surface, ground and marine waters as well as soils and sediments? Yike! Using a medicine take-back program is a simple way to limit your impact on the environment. 

Protect Teens and Young Adults

According to the 2020 youth survey of Cortland County 7th-12th graders, of students who report using prescription pain relievers in their lifetime, the most common place they reported accessing them was at home. 

Cortland County’s Drug Disposal Program includes five permanent disposal kiosks as well as two Drug Take Back Events that provide safe and anonymous disposal options for community members.

This year’s Drug Takeback Event is on Saturday, April 24 in 4 locations:

Cortlandville Fire Station, 999 Route 13, Cortland, from 9am – 1pm

Marathon High School, 1 Park St., Marathon, from 9am – 12pm

Cincinnatus Fire Dept., 5722 Telephone Rd., Cincinnatus, from 9am – 12pm

Homer Town Hall, 31 North Main St., Homer, from 9am – 12pm

Five Permanent Medication Drop-Boxes are located at:

• Cortland County Sheriff’s Office, 54 Greenbush Street 
  • Monday-Sunday, 24hrs
• City of Cortland Police Department, 25 Court Street
  • Monday-Sunday, 24hrs
• Village of Homer Police Department, 43 James Street
  • Monday-Friday 8am-4pm
• Guthrie Cortland Medical Center ER, 134 Homer Ave
  • Monday-Sunday, 24hrs
• SUNY Cortland Police Department, 4 Pashley Drive (Whitaker Hall)
  • Monday-Sunday, 24hrs

The Cortland County Drug Disposal Program was created to address the growing concern for unused prescription and over-the-counter medication. Flushing unused medicines down the toilet or crushing them and mixing them with coffee grounds or kitty litter was once the preferred method of disposal. Unfortunately, studies have now found that these methods of disposal are no longer safe for the environment.The best way to keep your kids, teens, pets, and the environment safe is through the Cortland County Drug Disposal Program.