The Baxter County Sheriff’s Office once again participated in the National Drug Take Back Day.  The event, which is sponsored by the Federal  Drug Enforcement Agency, is a National Event designed to help get unused prescription medications out of the medicine cabinets and out of the hands of our youth.  Arkansas leads the Nation in prescription pain drug abuse by teenagers.

     Since the announcement of the National Event, people have been dropping off their medications at the Sheriff’s Office  daily.  The Sheriff’s Office had two locations today manned by  Sheriff's Investigators.  Dozens of people dropped off thousands of pills at these locations.  The entire total  collection for the event was 206,107 pills or 314.4 pounds.  The DEA, only requires that the pills be weighed after collection.  Sheriff's Investigators counted all the pills using 'pill counters' loaned by Magee Pharmacy of Mountain Home.

     A reminder to the public that Baxter County is one of several  agencies in the State of Arkansas that also have a permanent drop off location, which allows the public to drop off old or unused medications at any time.  Baxter County's Drop Box is located on 8^th Street at the Sheriff’s Office CID Building.  

Sheriff John Montgomery