With prescription drug abuse growing, the Newton County Sheriff’s Office has taken another step in trying to curb the problem, while also adding another way to simultaneously help the environment.
Inside the lobby of the Newton County Sheriff’s Office is a “Big White Box,” allowing for the proper disposal of prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs that are out of date or not needed any more. Prescription drug abuse among all age groups is currently being reported by law enforcement agencies across the state and country as a real and growing danger. In addition, unsafe disposal of prescription and OTC medications is costly to our environment and, therefore, to our health.
In response to the growing demand for a safe and convenient way to dispose of household prescription and OTC drugs, The Council on Alcohol and Drugs recently launched “Operation Drug Drop Off.” It kicked off with the council donating a Drug Drop Box in virtually every county in the state that requested one (139 counties to date.) The NCSO has installed the “Big White Box” at 15151 Alcovy Road, Covington, Georgia, 30014.
Newton County’s “Big White Box” is accessible to the public 24 hours a day, seven days a week in the Detention Lobby.
The campaign goals are to keep these drugs out of the hands of children and teens, off the street, prevent overdoses and accidental poisonings, and avoid environmental contamination by not throwing drugs in the toilet, sink or trash. Items that can be placed in these secure drug drop boxes include expired and unused prescription (non-narcotics and narcotics), OTC drugs, medication samples, medicated ointment/lotion, drops, inhalers, unopened EpiPens, herbals, and veterinary medications. Items that should not be placed in the boxes include needles or sharps, biohazard materials and illegal drugs.
For more information on “Operation Drug Drop Off” please contact Sgt. Cortney Morrison at 678-625-1405 or cmorrison@newtonsheriffga.org. For more information on preventing prescription drug misuse and abuse please visit http://www.stoprxabuseinga.org or email John Bringuel at jbringuel@livedrugfree.org.
