ROCHESTER, N.Y. — As New York state grapples with numerous fatal overdose cases, an annual initiative aims to prevent prescription drug abuse. 

“We're here assisting the public, collecting their prescription medications that have been unused and instead of them going into a landfill or into the sewer system, Wegmans is collecting them to have them properly disposed of,” asset protection officer Troy Williams said.

Local law enforcement partners with Wegmans for prescription medication drop-off events across the state at 53 stores. 

“We have a beautiful relationship with Gates PD, they are a daily partner,” Wegmans store manager Chrissy Kreber said. “This specific event being so much an education and a responsible means to remove drugs in the household, it's important to have that level of enforcement with us to help provide further education if we don't have a drug takeback day and creating that awareness of where they may be able to drop off drugs in the future.”

According to New York state’s Department of Health, in 2023 nearly 3,000 fatalities were attributed to drug-related causes last year. And in Monroe County, more than 600 overdoses have occurred this year alone. 

“If children are in the house, things of that nature, there are many reasons not to have drugs just lying around,” Kreber said. “But in the same sense, just also recognizing the importance of drug abuse and why it's out there and why National Drug Takeback Day really came about and partnering with law enforcement offers that level of comfort and support and knowing if there is further assistance needed they are here to provide them that.”

This service is provided with the concern that many medications continue to remain in homes and can pose a significant risk to public health and safety. Police say this event is not only educational but also convenient for residents.

“They're such a fixture in the community,” Gates Police Lt. Chris Grimm said. “We've had a great turnout today. People are coming and shopping and are able to take care of their errands by getting rid of their unused prescription drugs.”

For years, these events have been seen to help Americans easily rid their homes of unneeded medications—that too often become a gateway to addiction. Officials emphasize the importance of safely disposing of medication to be a helping hand in combating this issue and continuing to spread awareness behind this initiative. 

“Wegmans is a vital part to a lot of people in the community,” Kreber said. “We offer a lot of great points of education, but working with our law enforcement. They are the experts to be better and more aware but help our customers have an avenue of success when it comes to disposing of prescription drugs."