





For immediate release
April 11, 2023
Drug Take Back Day aims to rid area homes of unwanted medications
Drop off locations in Branson, Hollister, and Forsyth
Did you know that 53 percent of misused prescription drugs come from family and friends? The source of those prescription drugs is often the home medicine cabinet.
Saturday, April 22, local law enforcement and prevention coalitions will host four prescription drug take-back sites in Taney County during the DEA National Rx Drug Take Back Day.
The Taney County Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Team (ADAPT), the Stone County Community Health Coalition, and the Stone & Taney Counties Substance Use Initiative have partnered with local pharmacies to promote safe medication disposal as a part of the event. Coalition volunteers will be on site during the event handing out free medication safety information and medication destruction packets.
“Each Take Back event gives community members the opportunity to rid their homes of potentially dangerous expired and unused prescription medications,” says Marietta Hagan, CoxHealth project coordinator and member of the coalitions.
Drug Take Back Days are a great alternative to flushing medications, which is discouraged. Drug Take Back Days and the use of the permanent drug drop boxes in Stone and Taney counties protects area waterways from contamination from medications. City and county sewer systems and private septic systems are designed to treat biological waste and do not remove medications that are flushed down the toilet or dropped down a sink.
During the Take Back Day, medication drop off locations will be set up on April 22 from 10am to 2pm at the following locations:
· BRANSON: Walgreens Pharmacy – 210 State Highway 165
· BRANSON: Rec Plex – 1500 Branson Hills Pkwy (East Parking Lot in front of Pavilion D)
· HOLLISTER: Walgreens Pharmacy – 101 Industrial Park Drive
· FORSYTH: Country Mart - 15720 US Highway 160
Over-the-counter medications, pet medications, and prescription medications are accepted in pill form, liquid form, patches, and creams. No inhalers or needles/ syringes accepted.
ADAPT’s mission is to reduce and prevent the use of alcohol and other drugs by the youth of Taney County through evidence-based strategies. The mission of the Stone County Community Health Coalition is to promote a healthier, happier, and safer Stone County by focusing on the reduction of substance use and misuse (specifically in youth), mental health challenges, and cardiovascular disease. The Stone & Taney Counties Substance Use Initiative is a project of Cox Medical Center Branson and funded by a Skaggs Legacy Endowment grant.
OUR
MISSION
ADAPT’s mission is to reduce and prevent the use of alcohol and other drugs by the youth of Taney County through evidence-based strategies.
OUR GOALS
The coalition is working to raise awareness among the youth in Taney County regarding substance use prevention through youth leadership opportunities, prescription drug prevention programs, and collaboration with evidence-based underage drinking prevention initiatives throughout the community.

2023 April Take-Back Event Participants
Pictured are: Shelly Marlowe
Officer: Steve Huggins

2023 April Take-Back Event Participants
Pictured are: Andy Hughes & Karen Oswald
Officer: Cpl. Matthew Kirk

2023 April Take-Back Event Participants
Pictured are: Beth Schulz & Alexyss Skinner
Officer:

2023 April Tale-Back Event Participants
Pictured are: Cris Bohinc & Sherry Grisham
Officer: Caleb Teig
The “Talk. They Hear You.”® campaign is designed to provide parents and caregivers with the information and resources they need to properly address underage drinking and substance use with their children.
The Consequences of Underage Drinking and Substance Use Can Be Devastating
The consequences of underage drinking and substance use can include but are not limited to
• Injury or death from accidents
• Unintended, unwanted, and unprotected sexual activity
• Mental health challenges such as depression and anxiety disorders
• Difficulty with attention, concentration, problem-solving, learning, and memory
• Allergic reactions, breathing trouble, coma, and even permanent brain damage or death
Research Suggests that Underage Drinking and Substance Use Are Not
Top-of-Mind Concerns Among Many Parents
• Many parents with children under the age of 21 don’t believe underage drinking and substance use are not issues about which to be concerned and therefore may not have conversations with their kids surrounding these topics.
• Research suggests that one of the most influential factors for a child’s healthy development is a strong, open relationship with a parent.
• Parents have a significant influence on their children’s decisions to experiment with alcohol or other drugs.
• Over 80 percent of young people ages 10–18 say their parents are the leading influence on their decision about whether to drink alcohol.
• When parents create supportive and nurturing environments, children make better decisions.
PERMANENT MEDICATION DISPOSAL BOX LOCATIONS
Branson Police Dept
110 W. Maddux St., Ste. 100, Branson, MO 65616
available 24/7/365
Hollister Police Dept
1 Gage Dr., Hollister, MO 65672
available 24/7/365
Rockaway Beach Police Dept
2762 State Hwy 176, Rockaway Beach, MO 65740
Mon-Fri, 9:30 am to 5:30 pm
Taney County Sheriff's Office
266 Main St., Forsyth, MO 65653
available 24/7/365
CVS Pharmacy
105 Loyd Rd., Branson, MO 65616
open Mon-Sun, 9:00 am to 10:00 pm
CoxHealth Pharmacy
525 Branson Landing Blvd., Branson, MO 65616
Mon-Fri, 8:00 am to 8:00 pm, Sat, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm