Prescription drug drop-off box a success

BELTON So far, the new prescription drop box in the Belton Police Department lobby has been a success.

After the first week, people left about 16 pounds of prescription drugs in the box. That amount is now up to 22 pounds, Sgt. Kim Hamilton said.

The abuse of prescription drugs is an alarming reality in our society, Belton Police Chief Gene Ellis said. Many teens who abuse prescription drugs obtain them from family members without their knowledge.

The prescription drug drop box is a great way to clean out medicine cabinets of unwanted or expired medications and help prevent the drugs from getting into the wrong hands.

In addition to teens taking drugs from unaware family members, many people dont know that when a house is burglarized, the burglars also often raid the medicine cabinets looking for narcotics, Hamilton said. Usually, they simply indiscriminately take all drugs out of the cabinets.

Its grab and go, Hamilton said.

Drop boxes also help keep prescription medicines out of the environment.

After being flushed or poured down a drain, many medicines pass through sewer and septic systems, which are not designed to treat or remove such chemicals.

They then end up in streams, lakes and groundwater, according to a government website about waste disposal.

Hamilton said people have left some liquid medication and needles in the box; however, those items should not be dropped off. Pills and patches are acceptable.

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Prescription drug drop-off box a success