Spring 2019 DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back Event Successfully Nets 1,856 lbs. of Medications

Spring DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back Nets 1,856 lbs. of Medications

StandUP Polk and local law enforcement agencies were proud to participate in the DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back event this past Saturday, April 27, 2019 for Polk County residents to turn in expired or unwanted human and pet medication.

An estimated 1,856 pounds of recovered pharmaceuticals were collected and safely disposed of via incineration. The 9 drop-off sites that participated in the Spring 2019 Medication Take Back included Auburndale Police Department, Bartow Police Department, Davenport 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 18,573 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.            

Ribbon Cutting & Grand Opening of the “Own the Upside…Avoid the Downside” Trailer on May 15, 2019

Ribbon Cutting and Grand Opening of the “Own the Upside…Avoid the Downside” Trailer

and Special Guardian Ad Litem Training on May 15, 2019

Most kids are doing the right thing, but there are signs to watch for to know that they may be headed in the wrong direction. Correcting risky behaviors early is the key to successful Prevention! Own the Upside is a campaign formed by InnerAct Alliance and StandUP Polk to help prevent harm and promote health, especially for youth. We are proud to be partnering with Polk Sheriff’s Charities, Inc. to present an exciting new resource to educate adults and parents of teens in our community.

Sheriff Grady Judd will be on hand for the Ribbon Cutting and Grand Opening of the “Own the Upside…Avoid the Downside” Trailer on Wednesday, May 15, 2019, at 4:30 p.m. at the Bartow Public Library, located at 2150 S. Broadway Avenue, Bartow, FL 33830. The event is being held in conjunction with the Florida Guardian Ad Litem Training, which begins at 5:00 p.m. with subsequent trainings at 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. There will be a short presentation and tours through the trailer exhibit. Members of the public are welcome and light refreshments will be served.

The Own the Upside Trailer is a mobile, interactive exhibit that houses a replica of a teens’ bedroom that parents can walk through to learn how to recognize clues signaling potential involvement in drugs and risky behaviors visible in plain sight or easily concealed in everyday items and seemingly ordinary belongings in the room. To support efforts to encourage healthy behaviors and reduce substance abuse, we invite community groups, PTA organizations, Booster Clubs, and other adult groups in Hardee, Highlands, and Polk County to arrange for an Own the Upside representative to visit with the “Own the Upside…Avoid the Downside” trailer and share an informative education presentation. Due to the nature of material being discussed, this presentation is for parents and adults only. Visit https://www.owntheupsidepolk.com/about-us to schedule a presentation today.

NATIONAL PRESCRIPTION DRUG TAKE-BACK DAY Saturday, April 27, 2019

NATIONAL PRESCRIPTION DRUG TAKE-BACK DAY
Saturday, April 27, 2019

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 27, 2019, 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 convenient and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of medication. Studies show that medicines in home cabinets are highly susceptible to misuse and abuse.

Our community’s Prescription Drug Take-Back Day will include the following 9 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 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
Lakeland Police Department – 219 N. Massachusetts Avenue, Lakeland, 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
Winter Haven Police Department – 125 N. Lake Silver Drive NW, Winter Haven, FL
Sam’s Club North #6441 – 4600 U.S. Highway 98N, Lakeland, 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 16,717 pounds of recovered pharmaceuticals safely disposed of via incineration.

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 on the local Prescription Drug Take-Back event, please contact StandUP Polk at (863) 802-0777.