(Photo by Tyler Murphy)

CHENANGO – The Chenango County Sheriff's Office and local police participated in the Drug Enforcement Agency's National Take back Day last week.

Chenango County Sheriff Ernest R. Cutting said the program was a success and collected more than 800 pounds of unwanted medication.

The collection took place at the Greene Police Department and Sherburne Fire Station and was a join effort between the sheriff, the DEA and the City of Norwich and the Greene Police Departments.

Shortly after the drugs were collected on October 24, officials transported and destroyed the drugs at a central New York incinerator, certified for such disposals.

“Unused medications are a public safety issue, leading to an accidental poisoning, overdose and abuse. Pharmaceutical drugs can be just as dangerous as street drugs when taken without a prescription or a doctor's supervision,” said Sheriff's Sgt. Dustin Smietana, one of the officers who participated in the program.

“Medications that are thrown in the trash can be retrieved and abused or illegally sold. Sometime these medications are flushed and can contaminate the water supply. Proper disposal of unused drugs saves lives and protects the environment,” said Smietana.

Cutting said officials would accept donation anytime at the sheriff's office and would continue to participate in the collections program, saying they made the community safer.