The results were revealed Friday morning.
Together, the Gainesville City Police Department, Hall County Sheriff's Office and the Braselton Police Department collected 166 pounds of meds as part of National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. Locally, "Operation Pill Drop" was a collaboration among the three law enforcement agencies and the Drug Free Coalition of Hall County.
The Gainesville Police Department (GPD) collected 18 pounds of medications at its headquarters on Queen City Parkway.
"It appears that the annual Take Back Day was a good reminder for all. Those that missed out on the event Saturday took advantage of the permanent drop box location at the Gainesville Police Department; the drop box was completely full by 10:00 a.m. on Monday; and had to be emptied twice. On average we collect over 20 pounds a month. On Monday alone we exceeded these numbers," said Kevin Holbrook, GPD Public Information Officer.
This year the Hall County Sheriff's office set-up the Take Back at the Steering on the Lake Community Center in Flowery Branch and collected 68 pounds.
Hall County Sheriff Gerald Couch said, "We appreciate the efforts of Hall County residents during the Take Back event. The Hall County Sheriff's Office reminds everyone that the medications collected on April 27th is only a small portion of the amount of unused or expired prescription medicines still in medicine cabinets across our community. Concerned citizens should check periodically to make sure that those medicines which are not being used, or those that have expired, find their way to one of the permanent drop boxes. Thank you, again, for helping to make Hall County a drug-free community!"
Located just outside of Hall County, the Braselton Police Department collected 80 pounds of medications at its downtown Braselton headquarters. The Drug Free Coalition of Hall County says many people living in southeast Hall County took medications to the Braselton drop-off site.
Assistant Police Chief Lou Solis said, "Every year the program gets better due to higher awareness. The cooperation between the DEA, the Drug Free Coalition of Hall County and the local law enforcement agencies is awesome."
The Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) National event is conducted twice a year. This was the fifth time Hall County residents have had the opportunity to participate. In April 2011, the first time there was a local Take Back, 6.2 pounds were collected. As awareness has grown the public response has also increased.
"Hall County residents' understanding of the importance of proper use, storage and disposal of prescription medicines is reflected in their continued participation in Take Back Day events and by their dropping off unused and expired medications at county drop box sites," stated JP Banks, Director of the Drug Free Coalition of Hall County.
Two permanent prescription drug drop boxes were installed in Gainesville this past November. They are located at the Gainesville Police Department (see above for address) and the Hall County Sheriff's Office in the front lobby of the county law enforcement center at at 610 Main Street. Hours for drop-offs at both sites are 8:00-5:00, Monday through Friday.
A national report issued a week ago says prescription drug abuse and misuse among teenagers nationwide increased 33 percent in the past five years. (See earlier story. Link below.)
For further information contact JP Banks at 770-534-1080 x277 or [email protected].
The Hall County Sheriff's Office set up a drop-off location at the Sterling on the Lake Community Center in Flowery Branch. (Photo courtesy sheriff's office Facebook page.)
http://accesswdun.com/article/2013/5/261177