At the last Drug Take-Back Day, the collection of unused, unwanted or expired prescription and over-the-counter medications totaled a record-breaking 283 pounds. In comparison, there are approximately 1,056 average paperclips in one pound and roughly 500 plain M&M’s candy in one pound. If the collection were paper clips, the total would be about 298,848, and if the collection were M&M’s plain candy, the total would be approximately 141,500.
The frigid temperatures and cold wind did not stop folks from dropping off their medications on Saturday, October 22. New this year, was two convenient locations. In an effort to collaborate with Parma, who did not have a collection, a location at the Timber Ridge Plaza on the north side of North Royalton was available. Timber Ridge collected approximately 93 pounds of pills.
In the center of town, in the Giant Eagle parking lot, volunteers collected approximately 190 pounds. The total, 283, was 113 pounds more than the spring collection.
The event coincided with the National Drug Enforcement Agency’s National Drug Take-Back Day, with nearly 5,000 collection sites nationwide, operated by almost 4,000 local law enforcement agencies and other community partners. The success of the local event was made possible through the efforts of the North Royalton Police Department (NRPD), Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), Partnership for a Healthy North Royalton (PHNR) and North Royalton High School students in the club Students Together Against Negative Decision (STAND).
The North Royalton Fire Department displayed its ambulance in the Giant Eagle parking lot, easily guiding drop offs to the location. In addition, it provided shelter from the cold wind to high school members of STAND, who made anti-drug posters to display in the high school during Red Ribbon Week.
One such poster displayed the message, “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, Drugs Don’t Get You Very Far.” The students helped during the take-back event, and the following Monday, they kicked off Red Ribbon Week. Red Ribbon Week honors the memory of DEA Agent Enrique Camarena, who was murdered by the Mexican drug cartel.
“I’m only one person,” Camarena told his mother, “but I want to make a difference.” The Drug Take-Back Day is a collaborative effort, with each participant, including the individuals who drop off their medications and the volunteers that lend a hand, making a difference in drug prevention efforts.
Many medicine cabinets contain unused, unwanted or expired prescriptions and over-the-counter drugs. If not disposed of, they may fall into the wrong hands and run the risk of accidental overdose and addiction.
Another benefit of disposing of medications at the Drug Take-Back Day is it helps protect the environment.
Those who could not make the event can dispose of any expired or unused over-the-counter and prescription medicines at the North Royalton Police Department, 14000 Bennett Road. The drug drop box is located in the lobby and is accessible 24/7. The process is anonymous and no paperwork is necessary.
The next community Operation Medicine Cabinet, Drug-Take Back Day will be held in the spring.