From left are Gouverneur Police Officer Darren Fairbanks, Gouverneur Hospital Pharmacist Susan Kane, Sen. Ritchie and Bonnie Porter of Gouverneur Hospital.

GOUVERNEUR -- Nearly 60 pounds of unused and unwanted prescription medications were disposed of at state Sen. Patty Ritchie’s “Shed the Meds” event at Gouverneur Hospital.

“I would like to thank the law enforcement officials and hospitals that partnered with me to make these events such a success, especially the staff at Gouverneur Hospital and the members of the Gouverneur Police Department, including Chief Laurina Greenhill,” said Ritchie.

“The response to my ‘Shed the Meds’ events is a testament to the need people have to get rid of pills that sit unused or expired in their medicine cabinets, which can potentially end up in the wrong hands or pollute our water if disposed of improperly,” said Ritchie.

North Country residents have disposed of 350 pounds of pills through Ritchie’s “Shed the Meds” events in St. Lawrence and Jefferson counties.

Ritchie, a Republican from Heuvelton, is running unopposed to continue to represent the 48th District in the Senate. The district includes the western half of St. Lawrence County including Ogdensburg, Canton and Gouverneur.