Connecting Residents of Sullivan County with Local Services
DRUG TAKE BACK & DROP OFF LOCATIONS
In alignment with the District Attorney Brian P. Conaty’s commitment to reducing opioid deaths in Sullivan County, our office continues to support law-enforcement-driven alternative strategies that address the opioid epidemic from every angle. One of the most effective and practical tools is the proper disposal of unused or expired medications. Through the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) Drug Take Back programs, New Yorkers now have free, convenient, and environmentally responsible ways to dispose of medications. Safe disposal not only protects our waterways and communities, but also removes dangerous and addictive prescription drugs from medicine cabinets—preventing them from falling into the hands of children, family members, or individuals struggling with substance use. The NYS Drug Take Back Act ensures that all drug manufacturers whose medications are sold in New York participate and fund these disposal programs, creating a robust, statewide effort to reduce the supply of unused controlled substances.
The urgency of this work becomes even clearer when looking at national data. The 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that 9.3 million Americans misused prescription pain relievers, 5.1 million misused prescription stimulants, and 6.2 million misused prescription tranquilizers or sedatives—and the majority of these medications were obtained from friends or family, often from home medicine cabinets. The Drug Take Back Act directly addresses this issue by helping to prevent diversion before it begins, stopping addiction at its earliest point of access, and ultimately helping to reduce overdose deaths. With nearly 841,000 Americans lost to drug overdoses since 1999—including more than 107,000 in 2021 alone—the importance of safe disposal programs cannot be overstated.
Sullivan County residents can locate nearby drop-off or mail-back locations through the statewide directories at MedTakeBackNewYork.org and the DEA Diversion Control Division webpage.
Click here for a comprehensive list of local drug drop off locations.
FEARLESS
District Attorney Brian Conaty would like to highlight New York State’s Office of Victims Services which provides critical services and support – treating crime victims and their families with the compassion and dignity they deserve.
In an effort to support victims of crime, the Sullivan County District Attorney’s Office will connect victims of crime with a community partner, Fearless! Hudson Valley. Fearless! Hudson Valley provides comprehensive support services to victims of violent crimes, survivors of domestic and sexual violence, human trafficking, and other crime victimization in Sullivan County. Fearless! works with law enforcement and community partners to ensure victims are informed of their right and are empowered and supported through every step of the judicial process.
24-Hour Hotline: 845-562-5340 | Weekday Webchat: www.fearlesshv.org/webchat | Click here to see their English and Spanish brochures
HOPE NOT HANDCUFFS
District Attorney Brian P. Conaty, Co-Chair of the Sullivan County Drug Task Force, would like to highlight our community partnership with Hope Not Handcuffs – Hudson Valley, a program of the Tri-County Community Partnership, available to individuals suffering from substance use issues.
Hope Not Handcuffs (click here for the brochure), is aimed at bringing law enforcement, community organizations and volunteers together to find viable treatment options for individuals seeking help to reduce dependency with any substance, including heroin, prescription drugs, and alcohol. Individuals seeking help will instantly be connected to an advocate and a network of resources designed to lead them to success, rather than arrest – the idea being to encourage them to seek recovery and regain control of their lives.
The District Attorney’s office has been and will continue to be focused on the opioid epidemic and help to provide the necessary resources to those battling addiction in coordination with our local, state and federal partners. This project was supported by Grant No. 15PBJA-22GG-04497-COAP awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance. The Bureau of Justice Assistance is a component of the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the Nation Institute of Justice, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the Office for Victims of Crime, and the SMART Office. Points of view or opinions in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.
The parent program was founded in Michigan and, since its inception, has expanded to include over 100 police departments in that state, connecting more than 4,800 participants with the resources and treatment they need. With Tri-County Community Partnership’s assistance, Hope Not Handcuffs – Hudson Valley spread to New York State in 2019, making it a national organization. This award-winning, evidence-backed effort is now in 60 police departments in five area counties (soon to be six with Sullivan County).
For more information and help, stop by your local police station, call 833-428-HOPE or visit the Hope Not Handcuffs website.
Hope Not Handcuffs – Hudson Valley is also seeking volunteer “angels” specifically for Sullivan County. “Angels” are people who help participants complete paperwork and place a call to the appropriate provider for treatment assistance. Meetings are safe and take place at a participating police station.
