NORWICH – The Chenango Health Network in partnership with the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office will be hosting the area's first e-cigarette take back in combination with a medication take back.

From 10 a.m to 2 p.m., on July 8 the Chenango Health Network and the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office will be holding the first e-cigarette and medication take back in the area.

It will take place at the Sherburne Big-M at 31 N Main Street. We ask that any e-cigarettes being brought in are separated into the battery, cartridge, and the e-liquid if possible. Disposable e-cigarettes will be accepted. There is no preparation needed for medications to be brought in.

The aim of the take-back is to remove these substances from homes and limiting the access through means of friends and family members.

E-cigarettes pose a hazardous threat and expired, unused, or unwanted medications are often misused.

E-cigarettes, due to the nicotine used, are an acute hazard and can cause harm to individuals who unintentionally come in contact with these products.

Thousands of calls per year are made to poison control centers regarding exposure to nicotine products used in e-cigarettes. If small children are exposed to such substances, it can be severely harmful or even fatal. It is important to remove old or unwanted e-cigarettes to help avoid this.

The medication aspect of this take back aims to reduce the number of expired, unused, or unwanted medication from homes.

In 2019 10.1 million people misused opioid prescriptions.

In addition, through a study in 2015, 53.7 percent of misused prescription medications are gained through friends or family, whether that be through being given them, purchasing, or taking without permission. 3.8 percent of misused prescription drugs are acquired through taking without permission from a friend or family member.

Through hosting a take back, the goal is to remove these prescription drugs that could be at risk of being misused. This allows proper disposal and may bring awareness to someone to turn their medications in who previously did not know of the possible usage of them.

– Information from Tobacco Free Chenango, Chenango Health Network