According to the 2020 youth survey of Cortland County 7th-12th graders, of students who report using prescription pain relievers in their lifetime, the most common place they reported accessing them was at home.
There are various ways that Cortland County parents can dispose of unneeded medications and prescription pain relievers. The Cortland County Drug Disposal Program was created to address this growing concern for unused prescription and over-the-counter medication. When prescription medications are easily available they can be used for purposes other than their original intent, increasing the chances of misuse.
Leaving unneeded medications at home puts children and teens at risk of misuse.
For many years, Cortland Area Communities That Care (CACTC) and partners across the community have been working on opioid prevention. This partnership between Cortland Prevention Resources, law enforcement, CACTC and community volunteers is responsible for the disposal of thousands of pounds of unused prescription medications, in order to ensure they are kept out of the hands of youth and are safely disposed of.
There are four permanent take back kiosks at all four police departments and two take back days at 4 community locations each spring and fall.
The Next Drug Take Back Event Scheduled for April 24th!
Drop Off & Drive Through Locations
- Cortlandville Fire Station 999 Route 13, Cortland 9am – 1pm
- Marathon High School 1 Park St., Marathon 9am – 12pm
- Cincinnatus Fire Dept. 5722 Telephone Rd. 9am – 12pm
- Homer Town Hall 31 North Main St., Homer 9am – 12pm
If you can’t make it to the Drug Take Back Event this month, you can drop off medications at the following locations anytime!
Medication Drop Box Locations
- Cortland County Sheriff’s Office, 54 Greenbush Street
- Monday-Sunday, 24hrs
- City of Cortland Police Department, 25 Court Street
- Monday-Sunday, 24hrs
- Village of Homer Police Department, 43 James Street
- Monday-Friday 8am-4pm
- Guthrie Cortland Medical Center ER, 134 Homer Ave
- Monday-Sunday, 24hrs
- SUNY Cortland Police Department, 4 Pashley Drive (Whitaker Hall)
- Monday-Sunday, 24hrs
