D rive up and drop off. It’s as simple as that when it comes to the disposal

Dale Kasprzyk, group supervisor, left, and Charles Tomaszewski, resident agent in charge of the DEA, discuss details of the upcoming national drug drop-off event, scheduled for Sept. 25. Photo by Jim Smerecak. Purchase color photos at www.BeeNews.com of unwanted,

expired or unused prescription drugs.

The Drug Enforcement Administration, in partnership with the Kids Escaping Drugs campaign, is sponsoring a nationwide Prescription Drug Take-Back initiative from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 25, at various Western New York locations.

People are encouraged to bring prescription pain medications such as OxyContin, antidepressants, or any other controlled substances, to their nearest drop-off points, where they will be sorted and disposed of properly and in an environmentally conscious way. Intravenous and injectable medications will not be accepted.

There will be seven drop-off locations in Western New York: the American Red Cross Headquarters, 786 Delaware Ave., Buffalo; Erie County Fairgrounds, 5600 McKinley Parkway, Hamburg; Lockport Plaza parking lot, intersection of South Transit and Willow streets, Lockport; Highway Barn, 251 Quaker Road, East Aurora; Kenmore Mercy Hospital, 2950 Elmwood Ave., Kenmore; City Hall, 216 Payne Ave., North Tonawanda; and the former Niagara Falls Police Department Headquarters, 520 Hyde Park Blvd., Niagara Falls.

Volunteers from the Clarence drug drop-off event, held at the Eastern Hills Mall in June, count and sort prescription medications, which were later destroyed. The drug drop-offs are part of a communitywide effort to get the medications off the street and out of the hands of children and teens. In addition to the DEA and Kids Escaping Drugs campaign, local law enforcement, the University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy, and other pharmacies and health care organizations will be providing volunteers for the event.

Perry’s Ice Cream will be supplying frozen treats to all who donate medications.

According to DEA supervisor Dale Kasprzyk, this is the first time the DEA has been involved with a nationwide drug drop-off of this magnitude.

Statistics have proved that prescription medications are quickly becoming the drug of choice for young adults not only nationally, but throughout Western New York.

A 2008 survey conducted by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University concluded that more teens than ever before found it easier to buy prescription drugs compared to marijuana and beer.

The accessibility of these medications, as well as their hard-to-detect nature, has contributed to the trend of abuse in the area.

In July, the DEA targeted a large drug ring after months of investigation in a widely publicized, multi-town raid, which led to numerous arrests.

“It’s an issue we’re trying to deal with on a law enforcement level,” said Kasprzyk. “The communities have been real supportive.”

According to Stacy Roeder, director of media and community relations for Kids Escaping Drugs, prescription medications are often a gateway drug to other harsher, more dangerous opiates, like heroin.

She has seen a significant increase in the last few years in the treatment of prescription drug and heroin addictions at the Renaissance Campus rehabilitation facility in West Seneca.

“We want to educate people,” said Roeder.

The drop-off event is designed to be anonymous and as convenient as possible, and those who choose to donate their medications don’t even have to leave their car.

It is recommended that drugs be in their original containers, though it isn’t required for donation.

While the name of the drug and the amount may be logged for statistical purposes, the donors’ names are not recorded.

At the end of the event, the drugs are immediately sent to the Covanta Energy plant in Niagara Falls, where they are incinerated in accordance with state law.

Community organizers hope to collect $1 million worth of drugs during the event.

In the past 18 months, various local drug drop-offs have been deemed successful and have bolstered positive feedback.

Volunteers at a drug drop-off held in Clarence in June compiled medications in excess of $170,000 in street value.

According to Kasprzyk, Amherst’s most recent drug drop-off event at Erie Community College North Campus collected approximately 600 pounds of medications.

More drug drop-off events are scheduled to be held in the coming months throughout the region.

For those with ailments that require medication to be kept in the house, there are several safety precautions one should take in order to minimize the risk of them falling into the wrong hands.

Roeder recommended keeping pills under lock and key so as to not make them readily accessible to youths.

“Grandparents’ houses are extremely susceptible,” said Roeder.

Roeder also said parents should be cautious when leaving out medication, as well as monitor the amount of pills in each bottle.

For more information about the Kids Escaping Drug campaign and its efforts, visit the website www.ked.org.

To learn more about the National Drug Take-Back initiative, as well as find your nearest drop-off location, visit www. justice .gov/dea.