Local residents who didn’t get the chance to participate in the DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, October 23 don’t have to – and shouldn’t – wait until the next event to rid their home of expired, unwanted, unused and dangerous drugs. With holidays approaching, kids and grandkids may be visiting homes that aren’t child-proofed and it is important to secure medications in the home as well as dispose of medications properly to prevent accidental poisonings.
Residents of Stone and Taney counties have other year-round options they can use for free, safe and easy disposal .
Permanent drug drop boxes: Several local law enforcement agencies and pharmacies in Stone and Taney counties provide this option. Some drop boxes are available 24/7/365 and all are anonymous and free to use. Boxes are located at:
This permanent drug drop box is located in the lobby of the Branson Police Department. It is one of several boxes available year round.
- 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
Medication destruction packets: 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 DisposeRx 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.
The Taney County Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Team (ADAPT), the Stone County Community Health Coalition, and Drug Free Ozarks encourage local residents to utilize the permanent drug drop boxes and distribute medication destruction packets for free.
“Almost 15,000 drug deactivation packets have been distributed in Stone & Taney counties in the last three years, equipping our residents with the power to reduce prescription drug misuse in their community,” says Marietta Hagan, member of both coalitions and project coordinator for Drug Free Ozarks.
The combined Stone and Taney County take back events held on October 23rd collected 177 pounds of medications across four sites. Medication take-back events offer one way for community members to dispose of unused or expired prescription and over-the-counter medications, helping eliminate potential public safety concerns. The alternatives provide everyone with additional opportunities to embrace the duty-to-dispose of medications safely, quickly, easily and effectively, year-round.
More information on the location of permanent drug drop boxes across Missouri or access to the free at-home option can be found at www.drugfreeozarks.org.
ADAPT promotes the reduction of substance use in youth through awareness, education, and programs that benefit the entire community. The Stone County Community Health Coalition promotes a healthier, happier, and safer Stone County, MO by focusing on the reduction of substance use and misuse, mental health challenges, and cardiovascular disease. Drug Free Ozarks is part of the Stone and Taney Counties Substance Use Initiative, which is led by CoxHealth and funded by a Skaggs Legacy Endowment grant.