FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

MEDIA CONTACT

 

Major Lafayette Woods, Jr.

 

Operation Commander/Public Information Officer

 

870.541.5351-OFFICE/870.329.5652-CELL

 

Email: lafayette.woods@jeffcoso.org

 

JEFFERSON COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE SET TO PARTICIPATE IN ARKANSAS' PRESCRIPTION DRUG TAKE-BACK: Jefferson County, Arkansas – April 22, 2015-On Saturday, April 25th 2014 from 10:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. as part of Arkansas’ Prescription Drug Take-Back the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and Tri-County Drug Task Force in collaboration with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will give the public another opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs.  We ask that you bring your medications for disposal to the following collection site: 

• Brookshire’s located at 2800 S. Hazel Street in Pine Bluff, AR., where the Sheriff’s Office Mobile Incident Command Center will be on sight. 

The service is FREE and anonymous, no questions asked.

 

On September 27, 2014 the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office along with the Tri-County Drug Task Force participated in the Nation’s 9th Annual Prescription Drug Take-Back Initiative, during which time 132 lbs of unused and/or expired prescriptions medications were turned in by citizens.  However, nationally 617,150 pounds (309 tons) of prescription medications were collected from members of the public at more than 5,495 site locations manned by 4,076 state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies that partnered with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) on the event.  When added to the collections from DEA’s previous eight Drug Take-Back Events, more than 4,823.251 pounds (2,411 tons) of prescription medications have been removed from circulation.  This is due largely to the efforts of authority’s nationwide that assist with overseeing collection sites that collect more and more prescription pills each year, demonstrating the American public’s continued appreciation and need for the opportunity to discard unwanted, unused and expired prescription drugs from medicine cabinets, bedside tables, and kitchen drawers.

 

“The recently discontinued “National Prescription Drug Take-Back Initiative” from the onset has addressed a vital public safety and public health issue related to the abuse and illegal sale of prescription medicines.  Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs.” 

 

Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.  Prior to the Prescription Take-Back Initiative, Americans usual methods for disposing of unused medicines, flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash both posed potential safety and health hazards.  However, the initiative provides a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposal, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of these medications.

 

“Although the “National Prescription Drug Take-Back Initiative” has been discontinued, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office along with Tri-County Drug Task Force through a collaborative effort will continue to support the State-wide effort by taking part in Arkansas’ Prescription Drug Take-Back to give citizens a plan for proper disposal of unused/expired prescription medications.”

 

Additionally, 1 of 4 permanent prescription drug take back receptacles located at 410 E. 2nd Avenue next to the W.C. "Dub" Brassell Adult Detention Center has been made available to the public to drop off unused/expired prescription medications that well be properly disposed of by Jefferson County Sheriff's Officials at a later date.  The Sheriff's Office is in negotiations with other entities to expand locations for permanent placement of the remaining prescription drug take back receptacles that will also be made available to the public once an agreement has been reached.