Sheriff's Department begins old drug-reclamation project
<p>Principals involved in the new drug drop-off program include, from left, Mark Clark, clinical service coordinator at the Flathead Valley Chemical Dependency Clinic, Vel Shaver, FVCDC prevention specialist, Undersheriff Brent Faulkner, Sheriff Roby Bowe, and Maggie Anderson, Unite for Youth Coalition representative. Boxes have been placed at the Sheriff’s office and at Troy Dispatch center.</p>
Leftover and unwanted medications sitting in a home can put families and communities at risk for prescription drug abuse, diversion and unintentional poisoning.
On Thursday, Oct. 31, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department launched a permanent prescription drug drop-off effort as part of its wider plan to reduce prescription drug abuse in Lincoln County.
MedReturn Drug Collection Units, obtained through Montana Department of Justice’s Operation Medicine Cabinet Montana have been placed in Libby and Troy and will provide a safe, easy to use, always available, commnity drug collection process.
“We have participated in one-day drop off events since 2010,” said Lincoln County Sheriff Roby Bowe. “But prescription drug abuse is on the rise in our community and the potential for harm is very real. One-day collection events are great, but we can do more. It’s like a take back program every day.”
According to the 2011 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), more than six million Americans abuse prescription drugs.
That same study revealed more than 70 percent of people abusing prescription pain relievers got them through friends or relatives, a statistic that includes raiding the family medicine cabinet.
Beginning Wednesday, Oct. 31, Lincoln County residents may bring expired or unwanted medications to be disposed of to the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office or to Troy Dispatch.
Participants are encouraged to remove or blackout any personal information on the containers. Drop-offs are confidential and free of charge.
The following items cannot be accepted: sharp needles, chemo/radioactive drugs, creams, liquids, or other nonpharmaceutical waste.
A placement container in Eureka is scheduled in the near future.
In 2009, an estimate 37,500 Americans succumbed to drug overdoses, many fueled by prescription drug abuse or a combination of mixing medications.