Prescription pills, more accepted ‘no questions asked;’ cops to destroy

Prescription bottles clogging up the medicine cabinet? If so, bring them to the “Prescription Pill Take Back” event on Sat., April 23.

This is the debut for the program sponsored by the Escambia County Children’s Policy Council Coalition and the T.R. Miller and W.S. Neal Peer Helpers groups.

“This is a great opportunity for area residents to safely dispose of old and un-needed medications,” said CPC director Kaurean Reynolds. “Because of the danger to the environment and an ever-present danger of our children obtaining these medications, it is of the utmost importance that we take every possible opportunity to safeguard our communities and families.”

The event will be held from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Brewton’s Christ Kingdom Ministry Center, located at 1602 Douglas Avenue.

“This is a perfect opportunity to dispose of medicine,” he said. “Proper disposal of prescription pills is important because it reduces the chance of them ending up in the wrong hands.

“It also further prevents some of the devastating effects associated with unused prescription pills such as misuse, theft and overdose,” he said. “When medicine is disposed of correctly it helps preserve the quality of the local water supply by reducing the chances of them going down the drain.”

Medications such as prescription and over-the-counter ones, ointments, patches, non-aerorsol sprays, creams, vials and pet medications will be accepted. Participants are asked to not bring illegal drugs, needles/sharps, inhalers, aerosol cans, bio-hazardous materials, personal care products and household hazardous waste like paint and pesticides.

Medications received will be destroyed by law enforcement authorities.

“All you have to do is bring it to the church and hand it over,” he said. “There will be no questions asked, and no identification will be required.”