The Fall 2023 Cortland County Drug Take Back Event, held on Saturday, September 30, 2023, was an important step towards building safer communities. This event allowed citizens to responsibly dispose of prescription medications that had been dormant in their homes, contributing to a safer and healthier environment. The Drug Take Back Event was hosted at four different locations:

• Cortlandville Fire Department
• Homer Town Hall
• Marathon Village Green/ High School
• Cincinnatus Fire Department

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Cortland Prevention Resources, CACTC, Access to Independence, the Cortland County Sheriff’s Office, Homer Police Department, and our host sites and many community volunteers for their assistance in the proper disposal of thousands of pounds of prescription medications.

This fall, the event saw 182 vehicles drive through, resulting in the collection of 840 pounds of medication for the event alone. In total in 2023, 408 vehicles visited the Take Back Events and disposed of over 2,280 pounds of medication!

For those who were unable to attend the event, Cortland County offers numerous community Medication Drop Boxes for your convenience.

• 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
• And at multiple pharmacies across the community!

It is important to dispose of any unused, unsure, or outdated medications regularly to ensure they are kept out of the hands of youth and are safely disposed of. The Fall 2023 Cortland County Drug Take Back Event was a resounding success, thanks to the collective efforts of our community. Together, we are making our communities safer and healthier by properly disposing of prescription medications. Let’s continue this important work and ensure a brighter, safer future for all. To learn more about this and other programs visit healingcortland.org/dispose.