Johnston takes part in national drug take-back program

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The Johnston Police Department’s event held as part of the National Prescription Drug Take Back Program on Saturday at Johnston Municipal Court was a huge success.

“Overall, we collected 273 pounds of expired, unwanted or used over-the-counter and prescription drugs,” said Daniel O. Parrillo, the town’s deputy police chief and emergency management director. “We are very pleased with the result of this two-part program.”

Unlike some police departments in Rhode Island, the Johnston’s force holds a twice-yearly take-back event at two locations – the courthouse, and the department’s 1651 Atwood Ave. headquarters. The station also houses a permanent drop box.

“We have heavy cardboard boxes in our lobby just like we have here today,” Parrillo explained Saturday. “People can come into the police department and simply drop those types of drugs into the box, no questions asked.”

Parrillo said the goal of the program, held locally in conjunction with the federal Drug Enforcement Administration, is “to keep those drugs out of the wrong hands and out of our water supply.”

Once all the drugs are collected and boxed according to DEA instructions, Parrillo heads to Massachusetts, where federal officials have an incinerator and are waiting to destroy the drugs.

Joseph Casalino, who lives in Providence but has relatives in Johnston and spends a great deal of time in town, praised the effort.

“This is great,” Casalino told Parrillo as he dropped off a plastic bag that contained old prescription drugs he once used after a successful operation. “I’ve had these just sitting around, and when I heard about this program, I put them in a bag to bring here today.”

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