Public invited to drop off unused or expired medication at Sarasota Police Department on April 29

Other locations around the county also accept pills for disposal

The Sarasota Police Department medication disposal box is in the lobby of its Adams Lane headquarters in downtown Sarasota. Photo courtesy Police Department

On Saturday, April 29, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Sarasota Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) “will give the public another opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs,” the Police Department has announced.

That day, any person may bring pills for disposal to the front lobby of the Sarasota Police Department, which is located at 2099 Adams Lane in downtown Sarasota, a news release says. (The DEA cannot accept liquids, needles or sharps, only pills or patches, the release stresses.) The service is free and anonymous; no questions asked, the release points out.

“This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue,” the release continues. Medications that sit in home cabinets “are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse,” the release points out. “Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family [members] and friends,” it adds. Furthermore, Americans are being advised that their traditional methods of disposing of unused medicines — flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash — pose potential safety and health hazards, the release emphasizes.

Other law enforcement drop-off locations in Sarasota County follow:

  • 2071 Ringling Blvd. in Sarasota; Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office.
  • 501 College Drive in Sarasota; New College Police Department.
  • 1350 Ridgewood Ave. in Venice; Venice Police Department.
  • 4531 State Road 776 (Venice); Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office.
  • 4980 City Hall Blvd. in North Port; North Port Police Department
  • 5800 Bay Shore Road in Sarasota — New College of Florida.

The Sarasota Police Department does have a permanent drop-box at its headquarters at 2099 Adams Lane, the release adds.