Prescription drugs to be collected by GPD Saturday

Monday, April 22, 2013

Later this week, Greencastle and Putnam County residents will have another opportunity to help deter prescription drug abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous unused, unwanted or expired medications.

On Saturday, April 27, the Greencastle Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will join forces to stage another Drug Take Back Program effort locally at Greencastle High School, 910 E. Washington St.

The program encourages local residents to bring in their medications for disposal in a free and anonymous atmosphere. A drive-through drop-off station will be set up from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the front entrance to the school, in the parking area nearest the GHS office.

"This is a great event," Greencastle Police Chief Tom Sutherlin stressed, "because it allows members of our communities to get rid of unwanted, unused or expired controlled, uncontrolled and over-the-counter medicines that are sitting around in their homes.

"It's no-questions-asked," the chief added. "We don't ask your name. We don't take your license plate number. If you have something, bring it to us and we'll see that it's properly destroyed."

The Drug Take Back Day event also prevents medications from being recklessly released into the environment and potentially causing serious damage to local water systems.

All drugs collected locally -- from over-the-counter pills to prescription medications to even controlled substances -- are boxed up and transported to the DEA for proper disposal.

Previous GPD Drug Take Back Days have averaged 200 pounds of unwanted pills and medications per event.

"So that's 600 to 800 pounds of medication we've gotten off our streets," Chief Sutherlin told the City Council recently.

That not only keeps such drugs from getting into the wrong hands but also prevents the material from winding up in the environment.

Tom Sutherlin

It is no longer considered safe or proper to dispose of prescription medications by flushing them down the toilet and even mixing them with coffee grounds and putting them in the trash, Sutherlin said.

The Drug Take Back initiative addresses both public safety and public health issues. Authorities say medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to such drugs.

Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.

The program is conducted at no cost to the city other than GPD officers' time, Sutherlin noted.

"Thanks once again in helping make this community a safer place for all of us to live in," the chief added.

Anyone with questions regarding the event may contact Sutherlin at the Greencastle Police Department (653-2925).

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