Jackson PD collects more than 130 pounds of prescription drugs

JACKSON, Mo. (KBSI) – Jackson Police Department collected more than 130 pounds of prescription drugs for the DEA national Drug Take-Back day last weekend. 

The goal, according to Jackson Police Department Cpl. Rick Whitaker, is to give people a safe harbor in discarding their drugs. 

“It’s a way for the public to turn in their unused medication or medication no longer needed or medication that you know a family member has passed away that they wanted properly disposed of without having to put it into our water system,” said Whitaker. 

Whitaker says if you don’t need it, get it out of home, and local law enforcement agencies take almost everything.  

“We do any kind of prescription pills; we cannot take needles; we cannot take liquids or and we cannot take patches, but any kind of prescription pills we’ll be more than happy to take,” said Whitaker. 

For individuals worried about giving up anyone’s medication, The Drug Take-Back is a no questions asked event 

“We have a bin in the lobby of our police department so that the public can come in and get rid of their medication. Asked a lot of times we get questions: “Should I remove labels? Do I have to leave it in the pill bottle; that is up to the person; the stuff is not looked at; it is, once it’s taken out of that, bands placed in a box and then sealed up and then like I said, we properly give it to the DEA,” said Whitaker. 

The disposal box is open 24 hours a day 7 days a week at the Jackson Police Department.