Franklin County Drug Take Back Day Nets 60lbs of Unwanted Prescriptions

Sheriff Thomas and two deputies hold the 60lbs of prescriptions taken in on Got Drug? Take Back Day, April 27th.

Franklin County citizens came out in force April 27th to drop off their prescription drugs at the Franklin County Sheriff’s office in Carnesville.

Every year in April, local law enforcement in Franklin and Hart counties participate in the Got Drug? Prescription drug turn-in event, which is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Drug Enforcement Administration.

Franklin County Sheriff Stevie Thomas said during this year’s drug take back, over 60 pounds of unwanted and out-dated prescription pills and medications were turned in.

“Last year, we took in 50lbs of prescription drugs, this year we took in 60lbs of pills,” he said. “We have big bin that was given to us and people can come in the lobby and put their unwanted prescriptions in.”

Once the drive was over, the prescription drugs were gathered in bags and weighed and then turned over to the DEA.

Thomas said prescription drugs have become a big problem for law enforcement in recent years ranging from accidental over dose to suicides due to drug addictions.

In 2011, an elderly Lavonia couple was attacked and beaten when they refused to hand over their prescription drugs to an intruder.

He said people from all walks of life are being affected because of the prescription drug problem that has swept across the nation.

Thomas believes these types of events help reduce the risk of prescription drug abuse and increase the awareness of a critical public health issue.   And because of that, he said his department is allowing people to drop off their old and unused prescription drugs throughout the year.

 “This year we will continue all year long. We will have a container at the Sheriff’s Department and anyone can come at the any time of the day or night and dispose of their unused and unwanted medicine.  Then we will dispose of it.”

Nationwide, the DEA reports that on April 27, 742,497 pounds (371 tons) of prescription medications were collected from members of the public at more than 5,829 locations manned by 4,312 state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies.

 That’s  50-percent more pills than what was collected last year.