The University of Central Arkansas Police Department has partnered with the Arkansas Department of Health, the Arkansas National Guard Counterdrug Program, and the Arkansas law enforcement community to establish a permanent MedReturn drug collection program.
Members of the UCA community looking to dispose of excess and expired prescription and over-the-counter medications can now visit the safe and secure permanent drop off location at the main entrance to the UCAPD, located at the corner of W. J. Sowder and Marion Ross Avenue on the UCA campus.
“We are very excited to have this drop box available for the UCA Community,” said UCA Police Chief Larry James. “We have participated in each of the national Prescription Drug Take Back events over the past few years. Now we do not have to wait on the national event. We have an option for the campus community to dispose of unused and unwanted prescription drugs at their convenience.”
The collection site is available 24-hours-a-day. Drugs can be dropped off with no questions asked.
According to the 2011 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), more than six million Americans abuse prescription drugs.
Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines—flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash—pose potential safety and health hazards.
James said the drop box offers a safe and convenient disposal site for unused prescription drugs for the UCA community.
