Crime & Safety

Farmington Hills PD Unveils Prescription Drop-Off

The permanent box, anchored in the department's front lobby, makes it easier to properly dispose of drugs.

Keeping drugs out of the hands of children and out of the environment has been the goal of a two-year prescription drug drop-off program in Farmington Hills.

Last year, local residents dropped off 132 pounds of prescription medication at the in just three hours, Police Chief Chuck Nebus said. And in April of this year, a similar collection netted 219 pounds.

"So it was a wildly popular program," Nebus said Tuesday, before cutting the ribbon on a new permanent pharmaceutical drop box installed in the department's front lobby.

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Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said he was "pleased and proud" to partner with Nebus and the department on Operation Medicine Cabinet. The program was created in 2009 through a partnership between the Sheriff's Department and Home Instead Senior Care, which has offices around the state that provide a variety of in-home services for seniors.

The Farmington Hills drop-off is one of 15 established in the county. Bouchard said two or three more are almost ready to go. The collection points have gathered a "pretty steady load," he said. "People want to get it out of their homes."

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"This was an outgrowth of two problems we're seeing," he said, citing more pharmaceutical abuse by young kids and studies that show levels of pharmaceutical contamination in water. "Our goal is to get it out of the water and get it out of the hands of the kids."

"I certainly commend the Sheriff's Department for getting these going across the county," Nebus said, "especially in these times of budget cuts."

Nebus said the program is virtually free to the department; the only cost is for personnel to empty the bin, along with a witness. He added the program also fits with the ' emphasis on green efforts, because it keeps contaminants out of the environment.

The pharmaceuticals are destroyed by the county's Narcotics Enforcement Team. Bouchard said the entire container is destroyed, so there's no risk of personal information being exposed.

Operation Medicine Cabinet does not take needles, and only prescription drugs are accepted. When you drop off your medications, you'll be required to sign a log sheet. Liquids, prescription ointments and creams must be sealed. Drugs should be brought in plastic baggies.

For more information, visit operationmedicinecabinetmi.com.


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