ADAPT Coalition Teams with Local Law Enforcement for Drug Take Back Day

[Branson, MO] – On Saturday, October 26, 2024, the Taney County Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Team (ADAPT) coalition and local law enforcement hosted DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. Law enforcement and coalition partners collected tablets, capsules, patches, and other forms of prescription drugs for safe disposal.

Live take back events, which were held in Hollister, Branson, and Kimberling City, collected a total of 787 pounds of unneeded medications—those that are old, unwanted, or expired—that too often become a gateway to addiction.

According to a report published by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), a majority of people who use a prescription medication for a nonmedical purpose obtained that medication from a family member or friend.  Removing unnecessary medications from the home can help prevent situations involving not taking medication as intended or dosed, taking someone else’s prescription, and taking the medicine for euphoric effects rather than medicinal purposes.

Residents of Stone and Taney counties have other year-round options for safe and easy disposal. Several local law enforcement agencies and pharmacies in Stone and Taney counties provide medication drop boxes. Some drop boxes are available 24/7/365 and all are anonymous and free to use.  Boxes are located at:

·         Branson Police Department

·         Hollister Police Department

·         Rockaway Beach Police Department

·         Kimberling City Police Department

·         Stone County Sheriff’s Department in Galena

·         Taney County Sheriff’s Department in Forsyth

·         CoxHealth Pharmacy at the Cox Branson Outpatient Center

·         CVS Pharmacy on Loyd Street in Branson

·         Walmart Supercenter Pharmacy in Branson West

Medication destruction packets are an at-home option used to deactivate, destroy and permanently dispose of pills, patches, liquids, creams and films in less than three minutes – without ever leaving home. There are a couple of different varieties of these, including Dispose Rx packets and Deterra pouches.  This option allows people to dispose of expired and unneeded medications quickly and easily through their household trash. It also provides a safe alternative to other disposal methods such as flushing medications or simply throwing them away without proper deactivation, which can be harmful to the environment.

ADAPT, the Stone County Community Health Coalition, and Drug Free Ozarks encourage local residents to employ safe medication storage and disposal practices by utilizing the permanent drug drop boxes, using at-home medication disposal packets, and locking medications in a safe place. It is estimated over 25,000 drug deactivation packets have been distributed in Stone and Taney counties in the last 5 years, equipping our residents with the power to reduce prescription drug misuse in their community.

More information on the location of permanent drug drop boxes across Missouri or access to the free at-home option can be found  at https://www.taneycountyadapt.com/or www.drugfreeozarks.org.

ADAPT, Stone County Community Health Coalition and Drug Free Ozarks work to prevent and reduce substance use in youth and adults, as well as strive to address other imminent health concerns in our hometowns. These organizations are community-based and citizen-focused. If you would like to find out more, please email Shelly Marlowe at taneyadaptcoalition@gmail.com.