Skip to content
NOWCAST News 9 Tonight
Watch on Demand
Advertisement

Student effort means vaping products can be turned in on Drug Take Back Day

Unwanted prescription drugs accepted across state this weekend

Student effort means vaping products can be turned in on Drug Take Back Day

Unwanted prescription drugs accepted across state this weekend

ARE LEADING THE FIGHT. WITH AN EMPHASIS FOR SATURDAY’S DRUG TAKE BACK EFFORT CLEARLY ON THE PROBLEM OF YOUTH VAPING. AT THIS KICKOFF MONDAY MORNING IN MANCHESTER, CIVIC LEADERS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS WERE JOINED BY STUDENTS IN HIGH SCHOOL AND MIDDLE SCHOOL TO HIGHLIGHT THE DANGERS OF VAPING. >> IT’S UP AND COMING. IT IS GROWING AND WE NEED TO STOP IT IN IT’S TRACKS BECAUSE IT’S ALL OVER OUR SCHOOLS. IT’S OUTSIDE IN OUR ENVIRONMENT. ANDY: THIS IS THE 18TH YEAR THAT DRUG TAKE BACK DAY HAS ENCOURAGED PEOPLE TO GET RID OF OLD AND UNWANTED PRESCRIPTIONS. BUT IT’S THE FIRST TIME VAPING PRODUCTS WILL BE ACCEPTED. A GROUP OF STUDENTS LEADERS FROM MCLAUGHLIN MIDDLE SCHOOL ARE WORKING ON SPREADING A STRONG ANTI-VAPING MESSAGE. >> IT’S COMING FROM THEIR PEERS. THEY TRUST THEM MORE AND THEY TEND TO TAKE IT MORE SERIOUSLY. >> THEY ALSO KNOW US MORE AND THEY THINK, MY FRIEND IT TELLING ME TO STOP, MAYBE SHE HAS AN IDEA OF WHAT’S ACTUALLY IN THIS. >> BEFORE VAPING THERE WERE CIGARETTES. YOU HAVE KIDS IN THE FIFTH, SIXTH, SEVENTH GRADE SMOKING CIGARETTES. SO IT’S THE NEXT THING THAT’S HAPPENING FOR THE KIDS. ANDY: THE DRUG TAKE BACK PROGRAM GENERALLY GATHERS 30,000 POUNDS OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS THROUGH ITS TWICE YEARLY COLLECTIONS. >> THIS IS THE RESPONSE. THIS IS WHAT I’S SO PROUD OF , THAT THESE KIDS ARE WILLING TO STEP UP, LEAN IN AND SPEAK UP TO THEIR PEERS AND TO THEIR ENTIRE COMMUNITY. THAT’S A SUCCESS STORY. ANDY: OFFICIALS SAY SOME VAPING PRODUCTS HAVE BATTERIES THEY ARE ASKING THAT THOSE BE REMOVED BEFORE THEY ARE TURNED IN. DRUG TAKE BACK IS SATURDAY FROM 10:00 UNTIL 2:00. FIND THE DROP OFF SITE NEAR YOU AT WMUR.COM OR OUR MOBILE APP.
Advertisement
Student effort means vaping products can be turned in on Drug Take Back Day

Unwanted prescription drugs accepted across state this weekend

New Hampshire will again take part in National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, and this time, Granite Staters will be allowed to turn in vaping products.>> Download the FREE WMUR appFor more than a dozen years, the program has provided a free, no-questions-asked way to get rid of prescription drugs. After an effort made by school students, vaping products were added to the list of items that can be turned in.At a kickoff event Monday morning in Manchester, civic leaders and law enforcement officials were joined by students in high school and middle school to highlight the dangers of vaping."It's up and coming. It's growing," said student Quincy Roy, of the group Makin' it Happen. "We need to stop it in its tracks, because it's all over our schools. It's outside in our environment."A group of student leaders from McLaughlin Middle School are working on spreading a strong anti-vaping message."It's coming from their peers," said student Chelsey Strandson, of McLaughlin Middle School. "They trust them more, and they tend to take it more seriously.""They also know us more and they're, like, 'My friend is telling me to stop. Maybe she has an idea of what's actually in this,'" said student Ashlyn Barticki."Before vaping, there were cigarettes, and you have fifth, sixth, seventh graders smoking cigarettes," said counselor David Hedge, of McLaughlin Middle School. "So, it's the next thing that's happening for the kids."Drug Enforcement Administration officials said the program generally gathers 30,000 pounds of prescription drugs in its twice-yearly collections."This is the response," said DEA agent Jon DeLena. "This is what I'm so proud of, that these kids are willing to step up, lean in and speak up to their peers and to their entire community. That's a success story."Officials said vaping products that have batteries should have the batteries removed before they're turned in.National Prescription Drug Take Back Day will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. A list of locations can be found here.

New Hampshire will again take part in National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, and this time, Granite Staters will be allowed to turn in vaping products.

>> Download the FREE WMUR app

Advertisement

For more than a dozen years, the program has provided a free, no-questions-asked way to get rid of prescription drugs. After an effort made by school students, vaping products were added to the list of items that can be turned in.

At a kickoff event Monday morning in Manchester, civic leaders and law enforcement officials were joined by students in high school and middle school to highlight the dangers of vaping.

"It's up and coming. It's growing," said student Quincy Roy, of the group Makin' it Happen. "We need to stop it in its tracks, because it's all over our schools. It's outside in our environment."

A group of student leaders from McLaughlin Middle School are working on spreading a strong anti-vaping message.

"It's coming from their peers," said student Chelsey Strandson, of McLaughlin Middle School. "They trust them more, and they tend to take it more seriously."

"They also know us more and they're, like, 'My friend is telling me to stop. Maybe she has an idea of what's actually in this,'" said student Ashlyn Barticki.

"Before vaping, there were cigarettes, and you have fifth, sixth, seventh graders smoking cigarettes," said counselor David Hedge, of McLaughlin Middle School. "So, it's the next thing that's happening for the kids."

Drug Enforcement Administration officials said the program generally gathers 30,000 pounds of prescription drugs in its twice-yearly collections.

"This is the response," said DEA agent Jon DeLena. "This is what I'm so proud of, that these kids are willing to step up, lean in and speak up to their peers and to their entire community. That's a success story."

Officials said vaping products that have batteries should have the batteries removed before they're turned in.

National Prescription Drug Take Back Day will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. A list of locations can be found here.