Got any needles hanging around that you need to get rid of? How about any prescription drugs? This week you can drop off both of those items at different sites around the city, and in Jamaica Plain.
Thursday will be Boston's first-ever needle take back day, which was organized by At-Large City Councilor Annissa Essaibi-George, chair of the Committee on Homelessness, Mental Health, and Recovery and the Committee on Education. Numerous organizations have teamed up to initiate the day, including the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers, Boston University School of Public Health Activist Lab, the Mayor’s Office of Recovery Services, the Boston Public Health Commission, and the Grayken Center for Addiction at the Boston Medical Center.
“As a mother of four and a former teacher of BPS for 13 years, preventing any opportunity for another child to get pricked by a needle in their school playground is my top priority...,” said Essaibi-George via press release. “When it comes to needle collection, we need to make it much easier, and much more available. By doubling the number of safe drop-off sites on Needle Take Back Day, we are bringing this service to people rather than requiring people to travel to a small number of sites.”
On Thursday there will be 18 community health centers throughout the city offering temporary collection hours from 10 am to 5 pm for safe needle disposal. In Jamaica Plain there will be two locations to drop off needles: Brookside Community Health Center (3297 Washington St.) and Southern Jamaica Plain Health Care Center (640 Centre St.). Click here to see a list of all the needle drop off locations.
This Saturday is National Drug Take Back Day at all Boston Police District Stations. From 10 am to 2 pm, anyone can drop off any unused or expired prescription medications. Boston Police District E-13 Station is at 3345 Washington St., Jamaica Plain.
— Boston Police Dept. (@bostonpolice) April 19, 2019