Permanent Drug Drop Off Locations Established in Marion

The Crawford-Marion ADAMH board and the Marion County Opiate Task force, in partnership with Marion County Sheriff Tim Bailey and Marion Police Chief Tom Bell, have announced the installation of permanent pharmaceutical drop boxes to give citizens the opportunity to turn in controlled substances and unused or expired prescription medications year-round.

The drop boxes are located at the Marion City Police and Marion County Sheriff’s Department in a secure location. Those wishing to drop off medication are asked to go to either location. Drop off is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Both departments have participated in three National Take Back events where the medication turn in is anonymous. In an effort to increase access for citizens to turn in medications, the Opiate Task Force used grant funds to secure the drug drop boxes which can be used to drop off prescription and over the counter solid dosage medications such as tablets and capsules.  Intra-venous solutions, injectable medication and needles are some of the items that are not allowed to be placed in the drop box.

The goal is to reduce prescription drugs in Marion County homes that are either no longer needed or outdated. Officials say these same drugs unfortunately have become the target of theft and misuse, oftentimes by people who have access to the residence.

Jody Demo-Hodgins, ADAMH Executive Director, shared that Marion County citizens were prescribed a higher rate of opiate based medications than the state average – with a rate of 77 pills prescribed for every man, woman and child in Marion County in 2010.  The availability of these medications is seen as a significant contributing factor to opiate and heroin addiction.

America’s 12 to 17 year olds have made prescription drugs the number one substance of abuse for their age group, and much of that supply is unwittingly coming from the medicine cabinets of their parents, grandparents, and friends.

More and more adults recognize the need to remove these substances from the home and legally and safely turn them over to law enforcement for proper chain of custody and court ordered destruction. Law enforcement is the only entity legally able to accept these medications and process them properly so that they do not fall into the wrong hands. Law enforcement takes control of and destroys drugs on a regular basis as part of their regular operations.

Chief Bell noted, “Any action that we can take to increase community safety for children and youth is positive.  The Marion City Police Department is happy to partner in this project.”

“Anything the Sheriff’s Office can do to combat the drug problem in our community and keep our citizens safe I encourage and support,” stated Sheriff Bailey. “The pharmaceutical drop box is another tool we can use to help keep unused and harmful medications out of the wrong hands and help keep our children and their families safe.”