MCSO collects 2,100 pounds of medication in Drug Take-Back program
The Drug Take-Back program in Columbus reached record-breaking heights when it netted slightly more than 2,100 pounds of medication this year alone, Muscogee County Sheriff's John Darr announced today in a press conference.
About 100 pounds of medication were collected over the weekend, when residents were allowed to drop of their medication at the sheriff's office and area pharmacies, including the CVS Pharmacy on Double Churches Road. The prescription and over-the-counter drugs were turned into the Drug Enforcement Agency, which will properly dispose of the medication, Darr said.
"Everybody knows that one of the biggest problems every county is having throughout the state of Georgia is prescription medication," the sheriff said. "This gives people the opportunity to dispose of it the right way instead of trying to hoard it and figure out what they're going to do with it down the road."
Darr said unused, unwanted or expired medication can easily get into the hands of the wrong person, whether it be a child or a drug abuser. Several people even make the mistake of flushing their medication down the toilet, which can be harmful to the environment, according to the sheriff.
Darr said people of all ages can "get a hold of prescription medication and abuse it," which often leads to "to bigger problems down the road for a lot of people and a lot of families in this community."
"I think we are just very fortunate to do what we call a small part in making this community a little bit safer," he said about the sheriff's departement.
Authorities said they collected 500 pounds of medication when the program first began about five or six years ago. Last year's event brought in slightly more than 1,500 pounds of medication, which was the record at the time, the official said.
Darr attributed much of the growing success to the unwavering support from the businesses and residents who have particpated.
"We've been very fortunate as the sheriff's office to have great partners in our community to make these kinds of events successful as they have been," he said.
Residents will have an opportunity year around to turn their medication into authorities by dropping it off at the fourth floor of the Columbus Consolidated Government Center at 100 10th St. They can also turn it in to the Dinglewood Pharmacy on Macon Road, Citizens Service Center on Macon Road and the North Columbus Pharmacy on Veterans Parkway.
Darr said officials will accept medication in any type of container aside from needles, which can pose a danger.
— Sarah is a crime and safety reporter at The Ledger-Enquirer. You can contact her on Twitter at @SarahR_92.
This story was originally published September 29, 2015 at 4:00 PM with the headline "MCSO collects 2,100 pounds of medication in Drug Take-Back program ."