Law enforcement agencies prepare for prescription drug take-back event - wpde.com
WPDE — In a 2019 national survey on drug use and health, nearly ten million people misused prescription pain relievers.
On Oct. 23, the Florence and Myrtle Beach Police Departments are participating in the DEA-sponsored drug take-back day.
The event allows community members to turn in prescription medications that they no longer need in hopes they don't fall into the wrong hands.
Cpt. Mike Brandt said the City of Florence has a drug prescription problem and the take-back day is a great way to keep people safe.
"A lot of times these prescription medications tend to be abused and they can be as dangerous as street drugs when they're used outside the parameters a doctor prescribes them for," said Brandt.
During April's take-back event, the department collected more than 200 pounds of prescription drugs and Brandt said he is hoping for similar numbers.
As for the Myrtle Beach Police Dept., they collected more than 240 pounds of prescription drugs in October 2020.
A drug abuse resistance education officer with the department said they have noticed a lot of addiction starts inside of the home, so education is vital.
"We start young. Teaching kids the dangers of narcotics and the dangers of drug abuse or what not. That's one thing the department has always done," said Officer Christopher Holmes.
Both officers believe in order to really put an end to the opioid epidemic the community also has to help.
"This is just another resource for them to try to do what's right and get these narcotics off the street," said Holmes.
"We hope this impacts the number of overdoses and poisonings that we have from prescription medications. That tragedy can be averted, and this is one way we are partnering with the community to help avert those tragedies," said Brandt.
Here are the all the participating agencies in the Pee Dee and Grand Strand:
- Horry County Probation Office
- Myrtle Beach Police Department
- Grand Strand Medical Center
- Georgetown County Sheriff's Office
- Litchfield Plaza
- Florence Police Department
- West Florence High School
- Florence Police Department
- First Baptist Church
- Sumter Police Department
- Sumter Police Department
- Sumter County Sheriff's Office
- Sumter County Sheriff’s Office
- Lee County Sheriff's Office
- Lee County Sheriff's Office
The event is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
In case you miss the take back event, you can search for other locations to turn in prescriptions here.
source: https://wpde.com/news/local/law-enforcement-agencies-prepare-for-prescription-drug-take-back-event
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