ANDERSON — Though only a few residents chose to drop their unwanted drugs at the Anderson Police Department on Saturday, it was a program that both police and citizens said is necessary.
“There’s a vast ignorance about, ‘What do you do with prescription drugs that you don’t want or need,’” said John Shanks, Anderson resident. “When I saw this, I thought, ‘Why hadn’t we done this before?’”
The Anderson Police Department joined agencies around the nation — including the Indiana State Police — Pendleton Post, in “Take-Back Day.” The U.S. Justice Department initiative was aimed at collecting expired and unwanted prescription drugs in an effort to prevent them from being sold on the streets.
The Madison County Problem Solving Courts planned to hold the event in collaboration with the Sheriff’s Department, but the event was moved to the Anderson Police Department.
Only eight people left pills at the police station, yet a sizable pile of pill bottles was accepted between the two overseeing officers. Just that small amount, the officers said, was a big step in removing temptations of illegal usage.
“That would be a drug dealer’s or a drug user’s heaven,” said Assistant Chief Stan Young.
Det. Cliff Cole, who works with cases involving illegal use of prescription drugs, held up a large, half-filled bottle of white pills.
“This is about 60 pills of hydrocodone,” Cole said. “That’s about $400 in street value.”
Young said the police department would attempt to hold a drop-off event at least once a year.
“I wish there was a mechanism on a monthly basis — every six months would be great,” said Shanks, who added that he hadn’t found any other ways to safely dispose of expired prescription pills; they just collect in his safe.
Cole and Young said throwing away the pills could mean someone swiping them for illegal use, flushing down the toilet could mean contaminating the water, and taking them back to a pharmacy isn’t an option.
“My first thought was to take it back to the pharmacy,” Shanks said.
Young said the prescription drugs collected on Saturday would be incinerated as soon as possible.
Until then, he said, they’ll be locked up tight.
Contact Christina M. Wright, 640-4883, christina.wright@heraldbulletin.com.
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Related Photos
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Anderson Police Department and Sheriff's Department officials accepted expired and no longer used prescription drugs as part of the Turn in Your Drugs Day. Detectives valued some of these bottles contents at around $400 if illegally sold. The medications will be incinerated in the near future, though police could not say when. THB Photo / Aaron Piper
Discussion
Low turnout but lots of pills at drop-off
Event moved from sheriff's office to APD HQ
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