The Allen Police Department (APD) collected more than 1,600 pounds of unwanted pharmaceuticals and 410 pounds of sharps during its Drug Take Back event on April 18. Held on the same day as Allen’s Great American Cleanup, the Drug Take Back eliminated a record one ton of medical waste from local water supplies and landfill.
The event owes much of its success to APD’s Community Relations Unit. Officers posted information at local pharmacies and senior care centers. One pharmacy made copies of the flyer and inserted them into prescription bags. On the day of the event, officers visited three nursing homes and collected pharmaceuticals for destruction.
The Drug Take Back is made possible by community partners, including Lowery Freshman Center (used as a drop-off location) and Presbyterian Hospital of Allen, which pays all disposal expenses. Since APD held its first Drug Take Back in 2010, it has collected approximately 12,400 pounds of unwanted medical supplies.