Sheriff’s Office Offers Medicine Drop-Off Site
Yulee, Fla. – The Nassau County Sheriff’s Office has a free medicine-collection program for residents to safely dispose of unwanted, expired or unused medicines.
The drop-off site accepts prescription and over-the-counter drugs, as well as pet medicines. Medicines from households are accepted Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., at the Sheriff’s Office, located at 76001 Bobby Moore Circle Yulee, Florida.
“The drop-off program is a free, anonymous, no-questions-asked initiative that prevents pill abuse and theft by ridding homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs,” said Sheriff Bill Leeper. “Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse. Unused medicine left in the home poses health and safety threats, and improperly disposed of medicines can end up in our water system and streams, and harm wildlife,” Leeper said.
More than seven million Americans currently abuse prescription drugs, according to a national survey on drug use and health. Nationally, every day approximately 2,500 teens use prescription drugs to get high for the first time, according to the Partnership for a Drug Free America.
“Most teens who abuse prescription drugs get them from family and friends, including the home medicine cabinet,” said Sheriff Leeper. “Painkillers, depressants, stimulants, and over-the-counter cough medicines are the medicines most often abused. These are the most important drugs to remove from your home if they are unwanted, expired or unused.”
Medicines from households are accepted in any form, including prescriptions, over-the-counter and pet medicines. Individuals are asked to keep medicines in their original container, use a marker to cross out their name if they wish, and then place the medicines in a clear plastic bag. Medicine that is no longer in its original container should be placed in a clear plastic bag with the name of the medicine written on the bag.
The drop box cannot accept liquid or syringes.
