The Baxter County Sheriff’s Office participated in the National Drug Take Back event on Saturday, September 29.  There were two locations available for the public to drop off their old unused prescriptions for Disposal. Sheriff’s Investigators Sgt. Brad Hurst and Eric Neal were at the location on the East side of Mountain Home in Front of the Staples Store. The second location was the permanent drop box located on the corner of 8^th and Elm by the Sheriff’s CID building.

The purpose of the National Event is twofold. The first is to bring awareness of the growing problem of Prescription Drug abuse.  Arkansas is number one in the Nation of prescription pain medications by teenagers.  The second purpose is to give an avenue for people to dispose of their old or unused medications safely and responsibly without contaminating our water supply by flushing them or putting them in the landfill.

The National Take Back Event, sponsored by the DEA, is held in April and October each year. It was started 3 years ago and this is the third year for the Baxter County Sheriff’s Office to participate in the National Event. This fall’s event was the busiest so far. “This is surprising considering we have had a permanent drop box located at the Sheriff’s Office for more than two years. I don’t think we have ever had a day since we installed the Permanent Drop Box that there were not medications in the box.  People use it and love it.” This fall’s event produced 364 ½ pounds of pills. This is 'Net' weight and does not include the containers or liquids.

The Sheriff’s Office wishes to thank everyone for the participation. Disposing of unused medications helps in many ways to combat the abuse of such drugs. We also want to remind people that they can dispose of their old or unused prescription medications 24 hours a day by placing them in the permanent drop box located at 8^th and Elm, behind the Mountain Home Fire Department. We ask you not place medical waste in the container.

Sheriff John Montgomery.