Camden Police Department provides drug drop box for unwanted medications
Detective Curt Andrick demonstrates the use of the new drug drop box at the Camden Police Department. (Photo courtesy of Camden Police Department)
Camden Police collected 220 pounds of unwanted medications at their last drug take back day on April 29. (Photo courtesy of Camden Police Department)
Detective Curt Andrick demonstrates the use of the new drug drop box at the Camden Police Department. (Photo courtesy of Camden Police Department)
Camden Police collected 220 pounds of unwanted medications at their last drug take back day on April 29. (Photo courtesy of Camden Police Department)
CAMDEN — The Camden Police Department has a new addition in their lobby on Washington Street. A secure drug drop box is now available for the public to drop off unwanted prescription medications anytime during the year, and not just during the annual drug take back day held in April.
The drop box was a donation from the Rite Aid Corporation, which received a grant to award the bins to any interested area police departments.
Camden Police Administrative Assistant Jeff Sukeforth said there is a need for drug disposal locations. Last April, during its drug take back day, the department collected 220 pounds of medications.
“A lot of citizens frequently drop off medications during the year after the take-back day, and we are happy to accept them, but there isn’t a secure area to store the pills,” he said. “The drop box is a perfect solution to that problem.”
Sukeforth said the department cannot accept liquids, needles or sharps, only pills or patches. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency’s website, improper disposal of medications may cause some potential hazards to the environment and health problems to humans. The proper disposal of medications helps keep medicines from entering streams and rivers when poured down the drain or flushed down the toilet. Additionally, safe and timely disposal prevents poisoning of children and pets, deters misuse by teenagers and adults, avoids health problems from accidentally taking the wrong medicine, too much of the same medicine, or a medicine that is too old to work well, according to the website.
The lobby at the police department is open to the public for drop-offs Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For any after hour disposals during the evenings or weekends, a Camden Police Officer can be reached by picking up the red phone in the lobby entrance to contact the Knox Regional Communications Center. An officer, if available, will be dispatched to the department to accept the medications.
Reach Sarah Shepherd at news@penbaypilot.com
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