Spring 2018 DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back Event Successfully Nets 1,995 lbs. of Medications

Spring 2018 DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back Event 

Successfully Nets 1,995 lbs. of Medications

StandUP Polk and local law enforcement agencies were proud to participate in the DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back event on Saturday, April 28, 2018 for Polk County residents to turn in expired or unwanted human and pet medication.

An estimated 1,995 pounds of recovered pharmaceuticals were collected and safely disposed of via incineration. The 8 drop-off sites that participated in the Spring 2018 Medication Take Back included Auburndale Police Department, Bartow Police Department, Haines City Police Department, Lake Alfred Police Department, Lake Hamilton Police Department, Lake Wales Police Department, Lakeland Police Department, and Winter Haven Police Department.

The latest event brings the total for collections held in Polk County to 15,553 pounds of recovered pharmaceuticals dating back to 2010.

Unwanted medications may also be taken to the county’s six permanent drop sites, funded by Givewell Community Foundation in Lakeland, at the Police Department locations in: Auburndale (2 Bobby Green Plaza, weekdays 8-5); Haines City (35400 Hwy 27, weekdays 8-5); Lake Alfred (190 N. Seminole Avenue, 24hrs/7days); Lake Hamilton (100 Smith Avenue, weekdays 8-5); Lakeland (219 N. Massachusetts Avenue, 24hrs/7days); and Winter Haven (125 N. Lake Silver Drive NW, weekdays 8-5).  To avoid harming lakes and ground water, please do not dispose of medication in the toilet.  

StandUP Polk is a community coalition working together to prevent harm and promote health through education, public awareness, and advocacy including strategies to prevent youth substance abuse. For more information, please contact StandUP Polk at (863) 802-0777.

National Prescription Drug Take- Back Day Saturday, April 28, 2018

National Prescription Drug Take- Back Day Saturday, April 28, 2018

StandUP Polk and local law enforcement agencies are proud to join The Drug Enforcement Administration and its national and community partners for National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on Saturday, April 28, 2018, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, for citizens to dispose of all unwanted, unneeded, and expired medications in a safe manner.

National Prescription Drug Take Back Day provides a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of medication. Many Americans are not aware that medicines in home cabinets are highly susceptible to misuse and abuse. Studies show that many are obtained from the home medicine cabinet of family and friends. In addition, many people do not know how to properly dispose of unused medicine, often flushing them down the toilet or throwing them away – both potential safety and health hazards.

Our community’s Prescription Drug Take-Back Day will include the following 8 locations in Polk County for citizens to turn in unused, expired, or unwanted Human and Pet Medications, as well as over the counter medications, vitamins, and other medication in liquid and solid form, for safe and proper disposal. Medications should be placed in a clear, air-tight plastic bag. Drop-off locations from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm are:

Auburndale Police Department – 2 Bobby Green Plaza, Auburndale, FL
Bartow Police Department – 450 North Broadway Avenue, Bartow, FL Haines City Police Department – 35400 Highway 27, Haines City, FL Lake Alfred Police Department – 190 N. Seminole Avenue, Lake Alfred, FL
Lake Hamilton Police Department – 100 Smith Avenue, Lake Hamilton, FL
Lake Wales Police Department - 133 E. Tillman Avenue, Lake Wales, FL Lakeland Police Department – 219 N. Massachusetts Avenue, Lakeland, FL Winter Haven Police Department – 125 N. Lake Silver Drive NW, Winter Haven, FL

Unwanted medications may also be taken to the county’s permanent drop sites, funded by Givewell Community Foundation, at the Police Department locations in: Auburndale (weekdays 8-5); Haines City (weekdays 8-5); Lake Alfred (24hrs/7days); Lake Hamilton (weekdays 8-5); Lakeland (24hrs/7days); and Winter Haven (weekdays 8-5).  To avoid harming lakes and ground water, please do not dispose of medication in the toilet.  

Previous medication collections held in Polk County since 2010 have resulted in over 13,500 pounds of recovered pharmaceuticals safely disposed of via incineration.  For more information on the local Prescription Drug Take-Back event, please contact StandUP Polk at (863) 802-0777.