GENERAL NARRATIVE |
The collections from the Kingsport Police Department’s medication take-back initiative known as “Project: Drug Drop Zone” have recently exceeding the 2-ton mark!
From day one, “Project: Drug Drop Zone” was a cooperative effort between the Kingsport Police Department and East Tennessee State University’s Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy. The project began on September 25, 2010 when K.P.D. held its first drug take-back event at the Rhoten Allstate Agency in Kingsport. In just four short hours, K.P.D. collected 179 pounds of leftover, unwanted, or expired medications. The success of this first event solidified the need for a more permanent and easily accessible collection site. Thanks to a grant from the National Association of Drug Diversion Investigators (NADDI), on January 27, 2012 a permanent drop box was installed in the lobby of the K.P.D. Justice Center, conveniently located at 200 Shelby Street in Downtown Kingsport. K.P.D.’s drug collection box is accessible 24 hours-a-day, 7 days-a-week, 365 days-a-year. To date, “Project: Drug Drop Zone” collections have exceeded 4,000 pounds. Any prescription medications, over the counter (OTC) medications, herbals, supplements, vitamins, and veterinary medications can be placed in the box. The department asks that no needles or sharps, biohazard materials, or illegal drugs be placed in the box. The goals of “Project: Drug Drop Zone” are simple: 1) Keep Drugs off the Street 2) Prevent Overdoses and Accidental Poisonings 3) Avoid Environmental Contamination The Kingsport Police Department is only one of several similar drug collection sites in the Northeast Tennessee region. Boxes can be found at all of the following locations: 1) Kingsport Police Department, 200 Shelby Street, Kingsport, TN 2) Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office, 140 Blountville Bypass, Blountville, TN 3) Bristol Police Department, 801 Anderson Street, Bristol, TN 4) Elizabethton Chamber of Commerce, 500 Highway 19E, Elizabethton, TN 5) Johnson City Police Department, 601 East Main Street, Johnson City, TN 6) Jonesborough Fire Hall, 123 Boone Street, Jonesborough, TN 7) Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, 999 Honeysuckle Street, Mountain City, TN 8) Hawkins County Sheriff’s Office, 117 Justice Center Drive, Rogersville, TN The United States Department of Justice and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) have officially declared this coming Saturday, September 27, 2014 as “National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day.” Citizens are strongly encouraged to take an inventory of their medicine cabinets and bring their expired, unused, or unwanted medications to any of the above collection sites for proper disposal by local law enforcement. Area residents are cautioned that keeping expired, unused, or unwanted medications in their home can be dangerous. Below are some simple rules to follow: WHAT’S IN YOUR MEDICINE CABINET? 1) MONITOR…where they are, how many you have, and who has access to them. 2) SECURE…hide or lock them safely in a cabinet, drawer, or box. 3) DISPOSE…properly any expired, unused, or unwanted medications. As a direct result of K.P.D.’s “Project: Drug Drop Zone” and similar programs across the region, East Tennessee State University has received grant funding of $2.2 Million from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) to launch a five-year research program aimed at battling prescription drug abuse and misuse. The Kingsport Police Department’s “Project: Drug Drop Zone” has proven to be successful beyond what could ever have been imagined. For more information on K.P.D.’s drug take-back program, please contact: Thomas M. Patton, Public Information Officer K.P.D. Professional Standards Unit ThomasMPatton 423-229-9433 |
RELEASING OFFICER | ||
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Thomas M. Patton, Public Information Officer
Kingsport Police Department Professional Standards Unit |
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