Mayor William Flanagan and Chief of Police Dan Racine joined area pharmacists, representatives of the B.O.L.D. (Building Our Lives Drug-free) Coalition, the Power 2Save Lives Coalition and Reverend Robert Lawrence to announce a collection event for prescription drugs no longer being used. At a press conference held at SSTAR, on June 11, 2010, participants announced that they are holding a “Prescription Drug Take- Back” on Saturday, June 19^th  at the Blessed Trinity Parish Hall. Funding for this BOLD project is from HRIA (Health Resources in Action) in collaboration with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, area pharmacists and a private foundation. This event is being sponsored by pharmacists Tom Cory of Standard Pharmacy, Carol McShane of Health Care Pharmacy and Tom Pasternak of Walsh Pharmacy, along with members of the B.O.L.D. Coalition, the City of Fall River and Reverend Lawrence. The “Prescription Drug Take- Back” is a proactive initiative organized to prevent prescription drug abuse, especially by children and young adults.  As a result of the generosity of a trust fund administered by Reverend Lawrence and BOLD grant funds, supermarket gift cards will be exchanged for the medications turned in at the event by the first 250 people. For more information about the event, call 508-324-3537.
 

(Top row, center) BOLD Coalition Director Karen Fischer holds one of the cards that will be distributed with all prescriptions suggesting how to properly store and dispose of unused prescription drugs. (Top row, right) State Representative Michael Rodrigues talks about the benefits of the program as Mayor Will Flanagan listens. (Middle row, left) BCC Civic Engagement Coordinator Jennifer Boulay listens as BOLD Communications Director Kim Fielding Rodrigues poses a question. (Middle row, right) Fall River Health and Human Services Director Henry Vaillancourt, M.D. stands behind Power 2Save Lives Coalition coordinator Jenna Legase describes the ease with which children often obtain prescription medications from their homes. (Bottom row, left) Fall River Police Chief Dan Racine underscores the importance of removing unused prescription drugs from the community as Mayor Flanagan and Rev. Robert Lawrence listen. (Bottom row, right) BOLD's Youth Outreach Facilitator Lance Tehan and Chris Parayno of TADA! (BOLD's youth subcommittee Teens Against Drug Abuse) show Health Care Pharmacy pharmacist Carol McShane one of the informational cards that will be given out will all prescriptions.