Anne Hughes

As many Connecticut families begin their spring cleaning, it’s also a great time to safely clear out unused or expired medications from your home. Proper disposal helps prevent misuse and protects our communities and environment.

National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is coming up on Saturday, April 25, offering a convenient way to drop off old medications at local collection sites across the state.

If you’re unable to participate that day, there are safe, year-round options available.

The MyOldMeds locator tool connects residents to more than 200 secure medication disposal sites throughout Connecticut. By simply entering your ZIP code, you can quickly find a nearby drop-off location, along with helpful guidance on safe medication storage and disposal practices.

I encourage you to take advantage of these free resources and help spread the word to friends and neighbors. Together, we can keep our homes safe and our communities healthy.

If you have any questions or need assistance finding a location, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

I attended the U.S. Department of Labor’s Stay-at-Work/Return-to-Work Policy Forum in Washington, D.C., earlier this week.

Each year, millions of hardworking Americans — including many Connecticut residents who have spent years with their employers — develop new or changing health conditions that can make it difficult to remain on the job. Without timely support to help them stay at work or return after an illness or injury, too many are forced to leave the workforce altogether.

Staying employed is about more than a paycheck—it supports better health, stronger families, and a higher quality of life. When workers are able to remain connected to their jobs, it benefits both households and our broader economy.

Conversely, when individuals leave the workforce due to health challenges, the impacts are felt both statewide and nationally. We see reduced tax revenues and increased strain on public programs such as workers’ compensation, Social Security Disability Insurance, Supplemental Security Income, Medicare, and Medicaid.

That’s why it is critical that we continue investing in policies and programs that help workers stay on the job or successfully return to work—supporting both our residents and the long-term strength of our economy.

Connecticut is well positioned to advance stay-at-work/return-to-work policies by partnering with U.S. Department of Labor resources and our state’s health care providers. Together, we can better support employers and employees facing illness or injury, offer meaningful resources to help reduce workers’ compensation experience rates, and provide reimbursable accommodations and wage support for employers who make accommodations for individuals with disabilities.

I will continue working through the Labor Committee and with our agency partners to make these resources a reality for our state.