Nearly 1,000 pounds of expired, unused and/or unwanted medication is being destroyed after a successful Drug Take Back in four Northeast Florida Counties on Oct. 29. Multiple local nonprofits, including Florida Poison Information Center — Jacksonville, Drug Free Duval and Project Opioid, partnered with local law enforcement, the National Guard and the DEA to collect medication.
“I want to say thank you to all the people in Duval, Clay, St. Johns and Nassau counties who cleaned out their medicine cabinets,” Florida Poison Information Center — Jacksonville Director Dawn Sollee said. “Too many children are getting poisoned with prescription and nonprescription medicine because it is readily available in the home. Getting rid of medication that is no longer needed takes the threat out of the home.”
This was the second medication takeback event of the year. This year’s fall event netted:
“The bottom line is getting rid of unneeded medications can help prevent drugs from being misused,” said TJ Ward the director of the JAX Chamber’s Project Opioid initiative, funded by a grant from the Florida Blue Foundation.
Nearly 109,000 people died from opioid overdoses in 2021, according to the Center for Disease Control. Research has shown that as many of 50% of the people who became addicted to opioids got the first pill from a friend or family member.
“Drug Take Back events are the chance for us all to work together to reduce the availability of unused meds, promote a mindset change around holding onto meds after they’ve served their purpose, and prevent accidental poisonings and overdoses in our community,” Susan Pitman, founder/project and strategy director for Drug Free Duval said.
Drug Takebacks are held on the last Saturday of April and October each year. Between events, you can find a location near you to drop off medication for safe disposal by going to floridapoisoncontrol.org.
