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Operation Medicine Cabinet Planned for Drug Take Back Day
Residents can safely discard unused or expired medications, no questions asked, during Operation Medicine Cabinet planned on National Prescription Drug Take Back Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 29 at Westfield Countryside Mall.
National Prescription Drug Take Back days bring light to prescription medication abuse and help remove hundreds of thousands of pounds of pills from cabinets across the country, according to the Drug Enforcement Agency.
Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including those cabinets at home, according to Clearwater Police.
So to help get unused or expired medication out of cabinets and off the streets, residents can bring the medications, no questions asked, to be disposed during Operation Medicine Cabinet from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 29, at Westfield Countryside Mall.
"This program allows people to help combat the prescription drug abuse epidemic. Medicines can save lives but when they fall into the wrong hands, they can also take them," said Clearwater Police Chief Anthony Holloway in a release. "Imagine being a parent and finding out that you're your teen's drug dealer. Most teens who report abusing prescription medication say they got it from family, friends or acquaintances."
Clearwater Police collected 381 pounds of pills during a similar event in April.
The drop off is in the parking lot area south of Lifestyles Fitness Center, on the east side of the mall. No bio-hazards or needles will be accepted.
The program is intended for private citizens of Pinellas County and not for commercial disposal.
Thanks. We'll email you the next time we update this story.
Julie Mango
8:13 pm on Saturday, September 29, 2012
Your earlier email didn't suggest "where" the pick up was to be made. I walked the length of the mall, from Sears to Penney's, asking people where the pick up was located. No one knew. I asked again in Penney's and all they knew was that it was somewhere in the parking lot near the fitness center. When I called "911" & I immediately advised that mine was not an emergency call, I got told I could not call that number to ask for directions. Of course, I don't normally carry the non-emergency police number with me. After walking back to the opposite end of the mall, getting into my car and riding around the parking lot, I was finally able to locate the police vehicle. I understand why most people will just "flush and forget" or throw it into the garbage and into the landfill. What an ordeal! It didn't need to be this difficult!
Swiffer Wet Jet
11:35 pm on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
The ironic thing is most elderly people are the ones with constantly changing scripts and consequently have more pills just hanging around they'd probably dispose of (if they could) and I can't remember the last time my parents in their 80's traveled to the Mall (probably when it was still just called Countryside Mall). I'm gonna research and see if there's an easier alternative for the older folks in the crowd. The Mall is great if you're wearing braces...... on your teeth, not on your legs.