Flagler Beach PD Gets Grant Money From CVS For Drug Collection Unit

Posted

Flagler Beach, FL - The Flagler Beach Police Department has been awarded a grant from CVS/pharmacy for the installation of a Drug Collection Unit to aid residents in environmentally responsible disposal of unwanted, unused and expired medication, including controlled substances.

Drugs can be dropped off, no questions asked, to the Drug Collection Unit in the front lobby of the Police Department, 204 South Flagler Avenue, Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 5 PM (excluding holidays).

The Drug Collection Unit will reduce the amount of unneeded/unwanted medicine in residents' homes, which could decrease prescription drug abuse, especially among teenagers. A 2014 Partnership for Drug-Free Kids study revealed that 70% of teenagers said it's easy to get prescription drugs from their parents' medicine cabinets. The unit will also help reduce contamination of local landfills and water supplies.

"The safe collection and disposal of unused medications is vital to protecting our children, our community and our environment," said Police Chief Matt Doughney.

The Drug Collection Unit in Flagler Beach is 1 of 1000 units being installed across the U.S. by CVS/pharmacy and the Medicine Abuse Project (MAP) as part of a 5-year initiative of The Partnership for Drug-Free Kids program.

The innovative donation program is the largest retail pharmacy effort of its kind to date and supports MAP's goal to prevent half a million teenagers from abusing prescription medication in 2017.

"CVS/pharmacy is dedicated to collaborating with organizations like The Partnership for Drug-Free Kids and local law enforcement to prevent the abuse of unwanted and expired medication," said Josh Flum, Senior Vice-President of Retail Pharmacy at CVS Health, "and builds on the company's Medication Disposal for Safer Communities Program."

"The City of Flagler Beach is extremely proud to partner with CVS/pharmacy, and as a City we'd like to thank [them] formally for their commitment to our residents," said Flagler Beach City Manager Larry Newsom.

For more information about the Drug Collection Unit, contact Chief Doughney at (386) 517-2020.

To learn more about the Medication Disposal for Safer Communities Program call 1-866-559-8830 or visit cvs.com.

Photos courtesy of David Smart and Shutterstock.com and cvs.com.

Copyright Southern Stone Communications 2017.