Sheriff’s Office and Sarasota Police Department participating in voluntary medication drop-off program

Statewide initiative to run through Nov. 12

The Sheriff's Office administrative facilities are on Ringling Boulevard in Sarasota. Photo courtesy Sheriff's Office
The Sheriff’s Office administrative facilities are on Ringling Boulevard in Sarasota. Photo courtesy Sheriff’s Office

The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office and the Sarasota Police Department are participating in Operation Pill Drop, a statewide initiative that encourages the public to properly dispose of unwanted prescription medication, the offices have announced.

The operation began Oct. 16 and will run through Saturday, Nov. 12, with the goal of taking unwanted prescription medications out of households where they pose the danger of accidental or intentional misuse by children or adults, a Sheriff’s Office news release explains. Operation Pill Drop “also aims to provide an environmentally safe alternative to medication disposal,” the release adds.

The Sheriff’s Office offers two locations for medication drop-off: the Criminal Justice Center, located at 2071 Ringling Blvd. in downtown Sarasota (open 24-hours a day); and the South County office at 4531 State Road 776 in Venice, (8 a.m. to 8 p.m.)

While boxes at each location are available to the public year-round, the Sheriff’s Office is participating in the statewide turn-in initiative “to publicize the permanent option for proper disposal,” the Sheriff’s Office release explains.

On Saturday, Oct. 22, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., the Sarasota Police Department invites the public to bring pills for disposal to the front lobby of its headquarters, located at 2099 Adams Lane in downtown Sarasota. “The service is free and anonymous,” the Police Department news release points out.

The Police Department’s drop box is a permanent one, the release adds.

Prescription and over-the-counter solid dosage medication, such as tablets and capsules, will be accepted by the Sheriff’s Office and Police Department. “Liquids and needles will not qualify,” the Sheriff’s Office release says.

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

“This is a great opportunity for parents to clean out their medicine cabinets,” said Sheriff Tom Knight in the release. “Unfortunately, because prescription medications are most commonly abused by young teens, parents must stay cognizant and use every opportunity to safeguard and protect their children from the dangers of drug abuse.”

Other Law Enforcement drop-off locations in Sarasota County follow, the Police Department release notes:

  • 501 College Drive, Sarasota: New College Police Department.
  • 1350 Ridgewood Ave., Venice: Venice Police Department.

• 4980 City Hall Blvd, North Port: North Port Police Department.