HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla.- More than 1,500 pounds of unwanted and expired medication was collected in Hillsborough County this weekend for National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, in coordination with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Hillsborough County Anti Drug Alliance (HCADA), and Tampa Police Department, hosted four drug take back locations throughout the county, allowing residents to drop off prescription drugs, no questions asked, to ensure that they are safely disposed of by law enforcement.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office collected 1,178.3 pounds of drugs between two locations, the Walmart located at 7011 W Waters Avenue in Town ’N’ Country and the Brandon Regional Hospital. Tampa Police collected 363 pounds of medication at the CVS located at 3102 W Gandy Blvd and the Walmart located at 1505 N Dale Mabry Highway. In total, the agencies collected 1,541.3 pounds of medication, more than the total from all 8 collection locations in 2019.
“We could not have asked for a better turn out at this year’s Prescription Drug Take-Back Event,” said Sheriff Chad Chronister, who spent Saturday at the Town ‘N’ Country Walmart location. “I am thankful that our community took advantage of this great opportunity to dispose of their medication in a safe way. These are the necessary steps we must all take to help fight the opioid crisis across Tampa Bay and prevent the prescription medication from getting into the hands.”