Newberry Fire Department Offers DETERRA Kits to Residents

The Newberry Fire Department is trying to keep prescription drugs from falling into the wrong hands by offering residents a convenient way to dispose of unwanted medications safely at home. 

Fire Chief Ben Buckner said, “the City of Newberry is excited to be collaborating with the Alachua County Health Promotion and Wellness (HPW) Coalition to help stem the opioid crisis by offering residents DETERRA kits to dispose of old prescription and over-the-counter drugs”.  The Health Promotion and Wellness Coalition has donated the DETERRA kits to the City and its Fire Department. The kits are available at Newberry Fire Station 28, 310 N.W. 250 Street, Newberry, FL 32669.

To use, simply tear open the package, fill the pouch halfway with warm water, place the drugs in the bag, seal and shake the bag. You can then throw the pouch into your normal trash -- the kits have a patented molecular absorption technology that deactivates pills, liquids or patches. 

Studies show that a majority of people fighting drug addiction first obtained the drugs from family, friends and the home medicine cabinet. People often let old drugs sit around because it is often inconvenient to dispose of the unwanted drugs properly, often leading to the disposal of them the traditional ways -- tossing them in the trash or flushing them – which pollutes the ground and waterways. 

The DETERRA kits offer a convenient way to responsibly discard old medications. 

Needles and sharps are not collected at Newberry Fire Station 28 and the DETERRA kits are not designed for sharps disposal.  For proper disposal of your sharps, please visit: https://alachuacounty.us/Depts/PublicSafety/FireSafety/Operations/Health...

For more information please contact Fire Chief Ben Buckner at 352-472-2150