MPD provides prescription drug drop-off box

Pinal County’s Prescription Drug Turn-in program has entered a new phase by installing special drug drop-off boxes throughout the county for unused medication and stepping up its public outreach with a free educational curriculum.

The Maricopa Police Departments announced Thursday a prescription drug drop box has been installed in its lobby, 45147 W. Madison Ave. The lobby is open 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday.

The box will be checked and emptied daily. The following items will not be accepted at the drop box: thermometers, hydrogen peroxide, needles, inhalers, aerosol cans, ointments, lotions, liquids, or medication from businesses or clinics.

Data from the Arizona Youth survey “indicated high need” of outreach about prescription drug abuse, said Cindy Schaider, executive director of the Casa Grande Alliance, the anti-drug coalition coordinating the program in Pinal County.

The survey is done in schools every two years to assess substance abuse levels. Students self-report exposure to and use of illegal substances. 

The enhanced program consists of three components: training law enforcement on issues involving prescription medication, working with medical professionals who prescribe the drugs, and educating the public through outreach. 

Law enforcement officers will be trained to recognize prescription drug abuse. 

“There has been a large increase in prescription drug DUIs,” said Officer Jenny Alsidez, MPD public information officer. 

Alsidez said many people don’t realize the effect of many prescription drugs is equivalent to alcohol or illegal drugs, and that driving under the influence of certain legal medications can earn drivers a DUI. 

Jo Anne Pinto is the project director of MASH Coalition, a group spearheading anti-drug programs in Maricopa. Pinto said the educational curriculums are available at no cost to any organization wishing to use them. 

“The curriculum is absolutely spectacular,” Pinto said. “If you need a program, give us a call.” 

There are three versions of the scripted presentation, which can run from 15 minutes to one hour. Targeted groups include young children, middle school students and adults. 

“People weren’t paying attention,” Pinto said. “Prescription drugs have been around awhile. … But people have started to die. It’s more of an increase in perception.” 

The drug drop-off boxes will be installed at all police departments in the county. 

“Other states have laws that pharmacies and hospitals are forced to take back (unused) drugs,” said Kostas Kalaitzidis, the Pinal County Public Attorney’s Office public information officer. 

Kalaitzidis said parents had been flushing the old medications down the toilet because they didn’t know what to do with them. 

However, most filtration systems cannot handle prescription medication and the drugs would seep into the groundwater, Kalaitzidis said.