Pinellas To Collect Unwanted Prescription Medicine In ‘Pill Drop’
Residents of Pinellas County will be able to turn in unwanted prescription medicines at several locations this week.
The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office announced the second week of operation ‘pill drop’ to run from Monday, Oct. 24 to Friday, Oct. 28 from 6:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. and from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. at these locations:
North – Walgreens – 33670 U.S. Highway 19 North, Palm Harbor;
South – Walgreens – 10563 Park Boulevard, Seminole.
One more location will be open next Saturday:
Walmart – 35404 U.S. Highway 19 North, Palm Harbor
PCSO continue to participate in several prescription drug take-back events throughout the next few weeks. These events will provide citizens safe, convenient, and responsible ways to dispose of drugs.
The operation is in collaboration with the Florida Sheriffs Association and will run through Saturday, Nov. 12, 2016.
Prescription drug abuse has been on the rise in Florida. The majority of prescription drug abusers report in surveys that they got their drugs from friends’ and families’ medicine cabinets, drawers, and bedside tables, reported the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
Per the Florida Sheriff’s Association, in January 2011, abuse of prescription drugs had reached epidemic proportions, claiming the lives of seven Floridians daily. Within one year of March 2011 when Gov. Rick Scott and Attorney General Pam Bondi teamed up, teams had made 2,150 arrests and seized nearly half a million pills, 391 weapons and $4.7 million. The seven strike force teams are coordinated through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, each led by a sheriff and police chief.
While operation ‘pill drop’ has made a difference in helping keep unwanted prescription medicine out of the hands of abusers many residents frequently ask about other drop off locations for medicines when ‘pill drop’ isn’t taking place.
Here is a list of frequently asked questions provided by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection:
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Can I take my unwanted medicine to my pharmacy? New federal regulations allow pharmacies to have collection programs. You should check with your pharmacy to see if it is available. If not, consider asking them to start a collection program. New federal regulations allow hospitals to have collection programs. You should check with your hospital to see if it is available. If not, consider asking them to start a collection program. In most cases, your doctor will not be able to take them back. If the doctor is located in a hospital with a collection program, he will be able to direct you to the collection container. In most cases, no. However, the Department of Health has information about donating chemotherapy drugs here: No, medicine should not be disposed in your sharps container. For information on sharps disposal click here. |
