Purge Your Pills Rx Drop Off - Saturday, April 27, 2013

StandUP Polk and local law enforcement agencies are proud to join The Drug Enforcement Administration and its national partners for the National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on Saturday, April 27, 2013 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm for citizens to dispose of unwanted/unused prescription drugs.

National Prescription Drug Take Back Day addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Each day, approximately, 2,500 teens use prescription drugs to get high for the first time according to the Partnership for a Drug Free America.  Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including the home medicine cabinet.

Our community’s Spring Purge Your Pills Rx Drop Off will include 7 locations in Polk County for citizens to turn in unused, expired, or unwanted Human and Pet Medications for safe and proper disposal. Medications should be placed in a clear plastic bag. 

Drop-off locations on April 27^th from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm are:

Auburndale Police Department – 2 Bobby Green Plaza, Auburndale, FL
Bartow Police Department – 450 North Broadway Ave., Bartow, FL
Haines City Police Department – 35400 Highway 27, Haines City, FL
Lake Alfred Police Department – 190 North Seminole Avenue, Lake Alfred, FL
Lake Wales Police Department - 133 East Tillman Avenue, Lake Wales, FL
Lakeland Police Department – 219 N. Massachusetts Avenue, Lakeland, FL   
Winter Haven Police Department – 125 North Lake Silver Drive NW, Winter Haven, FL

Previous prescription medication collections held in Polk County have resulted in nearly 3,000 pounds of recovered pharmaceuticals, which were safely disposed of via incineration. 

For folks unable to attend on April 27^th, medications may also be taken to the county’s permanent drop sites: Auburndale Police Dept. (2 Bobby Green Plaza, weekdays 8-5); Haines City Police Dept. (35400 Hwy 27, 24hrs/7days); Lake Alfred Police Dept. (190 N. Seminole Avenue, 24hrs/7days); Lakeland Police Dept. (219 N. Massachusetts Avenue, 24hrs/7days); or Winter Haven Police Dept. (125 N. Lake Silver Drive NW, weekdays 8-6). 

Medications may also be safely disposed of at home by dissolving them in water, mixing with coffee grounds or cat litter, pouring into a zip lock bag, and putting them in the trash. To avoid harming lakes and ground water, please do not dump any medications into the toilet.  

For more information on the local Pill Drop event or locations, please contact StandUP Polk at (863) 802-0777.