Drug drop box installed at Rockford

 

By Christa Jennings

Senior Staff Writer 

 

Rockford and area residents no longer have to wait for the annual Drug Take Back Day to get rid of their expired or unwanted medications.

Thanks to a partnership with the Agency for Substance Abuse Prevention, the Town of Rockford and the Rockford Police Department, a drug drop box has now been installed at Town Hall and is available for public use with no questions asked.

Iesha Beard and Chandy Gordon, prevention specialists with ASAP, visited Town Hall Wednesday morning to meet with Police Chief George Fanning and Mayor Scott White and to discuss the placement of the drop box and its usage.

Gordon explained that individuals can come in and drop off what they want with no questions asked, and items left in the drug drop box are securely and safely disposed of.

The box is not only for prescriptions, but over-the-counter medications, as well.

“A lot of people don’t know what to do with their over-the-counter medications, either,” Gordon said, explaining that sometimes people wonder about flushing them. “We want it safe, and this is the safest option.”

She and Beard explained that if individuals flush medications, prescription or otherwise, they end up in the water supply and can cause issues. They said there are also concerns with expired or other drugs ending up in the wrong hands.

As such, the drop box offers a convenient and safe way for individuals to dispose of their expired and unwanted medications or vitamins.

Items that are accepted in the drop box are prescriptions, specifically Schedule II through V controlled and non-controlled substances; vitamins; prescription ointments; pet medications; prescription patches; and over-the-counter medications.

Items that are not accepted are needles, inhalers, aerosol cans, thermometers, lotions or liquids, and hydrogen peroxide.

To drop off medications and other items in the drop box, per instructions on the box, individuals are advised to remove any personal information from the medication packaging and to make sure the pill bottle, packaging, or plastic bag are firmly sealed to avoid spilling. Individuals then simply open the kiosk door and drop their medications in for “safe and secure collection.”

Gordon said that they will do regular phone calls and check-ins to see how often the drop box needs to be unloaded. ASAP will also keep a report on how often the box is filling up so that they know how well the drop box is doing and how much it is being utilized.

ASAP serves seven counties, and Rockford’s is the eighth drop box in its service area, with it being the first one in Coosa County.

“This has been the easiest process,” prevention specialist Iesha Beard said. “Coosa County showed a lot of love, and we appreciate them making this an easy process for us.”

Chief Fanning expressed his appreciation to ASAP for reaching out about installing a box at Rockford and hopes that residents will take advantage of this local opportunity to safely dispose of medications.

“I am pleased that we could partner with ASAP to offer this service and am happy that Rockford residents and others now have a convenient location to safely dispose of their expired and unwanted medications,” Fanning said. “I appreciate ASAP reaching out about placing this drop box in Rockford to better serve our community while preventing these medications from getting into the wrong hands.”

Mayor White is also pleased with this additional service within the town.

“We are excited to have the first drug drop box in Coosa County here in Rockford, centrally located for county residents,” White said. “We appreciate the partnership with ASAP to offer this service, with no questions asked of those dropping off prescriptions and other medications or vitamins that are expired or no longer wanted. We hope that our community and others will take advantage of this opportunity for a safe and convenient place to dispose of their medications.”

Individuals can drop off medications at the drug drop box during regular business hours, with Town Hall open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and closed 12 to 1 p.m. for lunch.

The Agency for Substance Abuse Prevention is “dedicated to strengthening community awareness through substance misuse education and prevention services to individuals, schools, industries, and families residing in the state of Alabama.”

Based in Oxford, ASAP was founded on February 7, 1973. Per its history information, “built on a foundation of dedication and compassion, the agency has spent decades advocating for education, intervention and support services to combat substance misuse.”

To learn more about ASAP, its programs and services, visit the agency’s website at www.asaprev.com.