The Garland County Sheriff's Department and Ouachita Children's Center installed a new drop box for prescription drugs Monday in the lobby of the sheriff's office.
The new prescription drug box provides a safe, environmentally friendly way for citizens to dispose of their unwanted or unused prescription drugs. The drop box can be accessed during office hours from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at the sheriff's office at 525 Ouachita Ave.
The drop-off of prescription medication is anonymous, and medications may be returned in any container or removed from the original pill bottles for increased privacy. Unwanted prescriptions, over-the-counter drugs, vitamins and other nutritional supplements will also be accepted.
"We have a year-round project called Operation Medicine Cabinet, which allows us to collect unwanted prescription drugs for proper disposal," said Garland County Sheriff Mike McCormick. "The drug drop box is an integral part of this program and should help decrease prescription drug abuse, specifically in teens and young adults who typically procure these types of drugs from their own families' medicine cabinet without the knowledge of their parents or grandparents."
The Garland County Sheriff's Department is one of four locations in Garland County hosting Arkansas Take Back events on Oct. 22 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Medications can also be returned that day at the Hot Springs Police Department, 641 Malvern Ave.; Hot Springs Village Police Department, 113 Calella Road; and the Walgreen's store at 3631 Central Ave.
"OCC is thrilled to be able to partner with Garland County Sheriff Mike McCormick to provide a brand-new prescription drug disposal box, which is just in time for the next statewide prescription drug take back event," said Susie Reece, OCC Partnership for Success coordinator.
McCormick said the sheriff's office has been the top drop-off location in the past. A box was formerly located at the detention center when it was adjacent to the sheriff's department.
"Since the old detention center is closed down here, we couldn't use that anymore," McCormick said. "We were in a position where we didn't have a drop-off point at the sheriff's department."
McCormick said he and Linda Ragsdale, OCC executive director, have continued a dialogue to facilitate local drug take back efforts. The center purchased the drug drop box through its Partnership for Success grant under the Arkansas Department of Health Division of Behavioral Health.
The cost of the drop box was $1,500. Pro Signs and Graphics added its visuals.
"OCC is very mindful and concerned about prescription drug abuse among our youth population in Garland County, and this is a major community prevention effort as part of the Partnership-funded '"Drinks? Drugs? Nah!' campaign," Reece said.
"I think our community is really fortunate to have such a proactive, preventive-oriented organization like OCC helping our kids and families with this growing problem."
Every day, 2,000 teenagers use a prescription drug to get high for the first time, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Prescription medications are the second-most abused drugs -- excluding alcohol and tobacco -- among high school students in grades 10-12.
The Partnership for Success grant has allowed the center to host other events this year, including a free movie night at the Garland County Library in September. The center also hosted Family Fun Fairs in Hot Springs and Arkadelphia in July.
Local on 10/11/2016