National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day is Saturday, October 27th, and there are a number of Take-Back events scheduled throughout Hancock County on that day.


The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office is hosting their Drug Take-Back Day in collaboration with the  Ellsworth Police Department, the Ellsworth Chamber of Commerce, and Healthy Acadia on Saturday, October 27th from 9:00AM to 1:00PM at the Ellsworth Chamber of Commerce, located at 163 High Street. Community members are encouraged to bring in any unused, unwanted, or expired prescription drugs for this free, anonymous service.

Gouldsboro and Winter Harbor Police Departments will be hosting a Drug Take-Back at the Winter Harbor Police Department (20 School Street) from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM on October 27th

Sheriff Scott Kane stated, “This drug take back will allow citizens to drop off any unwanted, unused, or outdated medications that they may have in their possession. The medications can be dropped off at participating locations, and they will be disposed of safely with no danger to the citizens or the environment.”

For additional disposal opportunities, prescription drug drop boxes are available at the following locations year-round:

  • ·     Bar Harbor Police Department, 37 Firefly Lane, Bar Harbor; (207) 288-3391
  • ·     Bucksport Police Department, 89 Franklin Street, Bucksport; (207) 469-7951
  • ·     Calais Police Department, 312 North Street, Calais; (207) 454-2751
  • ·     Eastport Police Department, 28 Water Street, Eastport; (207) 853-4353
  • ·     Ellsworth Police Department, 1 City Hall Plaza, Ellsworth; (207) 667-2168
  • ·     Hancock County Sheriff's Office, 50 State Street, Suite 10, Ellsworth; (207) 667-7575
  • ·     Milbridge Pharmacy, 11 Main Street, Milbridge; (207) 546-2304
  • ·     Mount Desert Police Department, 21 Sea Street, Northeast Harbor; (207) 276-5111
  • ·     Passamaquoddy Tribe of Indian Township Police Department, 443 US 1, Princeton; (207) 796-5296
  • ·     Passamaquoddy Tribe of Pleasant Point Police Dept., 100 County Rd, Perry; (207) 853-6100
  • ·     Southwest Harbor Police Department, 26 Village Green Way, Southwest Harbor; (207) 244-7911
  • ·     Washington County Sheriff’s Office, 83 Court Street, Machias; (207) 255-6871

In 2016, the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office and Ellsworth Police Department collected 712 pounds of prescription drugs; and 27,140 pounds were collected across all Maine sites. Overall, in its 13 previous Take-Back events, DEA and its partners have taken in over 8.1 million pounds of pills across the country.

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