Police proactive; unused meds disposed
January 13, 2010
O’Fallon, MO
On January 9, 2010, the O’Fallon Police Department conducted its first Prescription Drug Take Back Program. The event was held at the O’Fallon City Hall Complex located at 100 North Main Street in O’Fallon.
The event was inspired by a request from the O’Fallon Senior Advisory Committee who requested the O’Fallon Police Department create a program to legally and safely dispose of old, unused prescription medications.
The program was staffed by two O’Fallon Police Officers who took custody of the drugs and several senior volunteers who aided in clerical work logging all the medicines under the supervision of the officers.
During the course of the four hour event approximately 25 people took advantage of the program yielding 21,827 units of medications. Of the dozens of different prescriptions received, several were controlled substances that were scheduled narcotics and mood altering antipsychotics which are abused heavily by both adults and teens. Also recovered were over nine thousand pills containing pseudoephedrine, a key ingredient to the manufacture of methamphetamine.
Thanks to this program, over 20,000 unused pills were taken off the street before they could be illegally used or improperly discarded. All the medications will be properly and safely destroyed per O’Fallon Police Guidelines and with the approval of the United States Drug Enforcement Agency.
From the O’Fallon Police Department
Copyright 2009 Neighbors About Town
