On April 27, Law Enforcement and communities worked together to collect unwanted and expired medications to divert them from possible misuse. The theme for this bi-annual DEA event was “Don’t be the Dealer” to raise awareness that unmonitored medications are easy targets for those with an opioid use disorder.
Missouri collected 38,233 pounds, bringing the total collected since the inception of Take Backs in 2010 to 494,620 pounds of medications.
Missouri once again lead the region in pounds removed from circulation.
Coalition Take Back Days
Community Partnership of the Ozarks, which services the entire southwest corner of the state, hosted multiple Take Back sites across the region.
Healthy Dent County Prevention Coalition
hosted a
Take Back Day
Lee’s Summit Cares – Take Back Day
The Lee’s Summit community disposed of 714 pounds of medications at four locations: the Lee’s Summit Police Department, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, John Knox Village, and Lee’s Summit Medical Center. The local event is sponsored by Lee’s Summit CARES, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Lee’s Summit Police Department, and Lee’s Summit Water Department. Since 2010, Lee’s Summit residents have properly disposed of more than 18,375 pounds of medication through Lee’s Summit Take-Back Days and local year-round permanent medication boxes.
Southeast Missouri Behavioral Health – Take Back Day
Southeast Missouri Behavioral Health’s prevention team purchased lunch for the participants and provided banners for each of the six counties they service.
Carter County Sheriff’s Department also used the occasion to promote the Be Under Your Own Influence Campaign!
Poplar Bluff Police Department – Take Back Day
The Poplar Bluff Police Department collected medications at the station despite the windy conditions that battered their banner!
Southeast Prevention Resource Center- Take Back Day
The Southeast Prevention Resource Center’s service areas hosted events at the Jackson, Cape Girardeau, Perryville, and Fredericktown Police Departments. The Ste. Genevieve Health Department also hosted a Take Back.
St. Joseph Youth Alliance- Take Back Day
St. Joseph Youth Alliance partnered with law enforcement and collected 353 pounds.
Youth With Vision – Take Back Day
Youth with Vision used the opportunity to showcase their Photovoice Projects. They went to one of our area Police Departments in Shoal Creek and talked with community members as they came in about their project and the importance of securing and disposing of meds appropriately and safely.
