Prescription drugs by Dmitry Vorobyev via iStock for WMNF News.
This Saturday residents in Pinellas County and elsewhere can go to various drop off locations to turn in their old prescription medications and shred documents containing personal information.
The event is to help keep medicine from getting in the hands of others who do not need them.
Rob Shaw is the Public Information Officer for the Clearwater Police Department. He said a lot of time during residential burglaries people’s medicines and financial papers are targeted in those crimes.
“We try to provide an alternative for people to safely dispose of both of those types of drugs,” Shaw said.
There will be multiple Pinellas locations and others around Florida.
The locations in Pinellas are:
Countryside Mall Parking Lot, Southwest Corner (Clearwater Police Department) – 27001 US Highway 19 North, Clearwater
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office – North District Station, 2496 Bayshore Boulevard, Dunedin, 34698
Indian Shores Town Hall Parking Lot (Indian Shores Police Department) – 19305 Gulf Boulevard, Indian Shores, 33785
Largo Medical Center (Largo Police Department) – 201 14th Street SW, Largo, 33770
Largo Police Department – 201 Highland Avenue North, Largo, 33770
Walgreens (Largo Police Department) – 2295 East Bay Drive, Largo, 33771
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office – 10750 Ulmerton Road, Largo 33778
St. Pete Beach Community Center (Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office), 7701 Boca Ciega Drive, St. Pete Beach
St. Petersburg Police Department – 1301 1st Avenue North, St. Petersburg, 33705
“The prescription drug effort is twice a year once in the spring and once in the fall and is coordinated with the DEA and only in Clearwater we do the shredding as well,” Shaw said.
In the past, the event has been popular with people lining up before the start time. The events in Pinellas are from 10 to 2 p.m. across Pinellas.
There is a limit of 10 boxes and is not meant for businesses. The department will not accept needles, hazardous items, liquids and vapes.
Other locations like Winter Haven will be participating too, to help ensure old prescription drugs do not get in the hands of others.
You can find a list of drug take-back locations here: www.DEATakeBack.com.