INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Want $5 from CVS? Take your old prescriptions and over the counter drugs to any of eight locations in Indian River County participating in Operation Medicine Cabinet on Saturday, Nov. 14 from 10 a.m. to noon.
“We don’t want people flushing them down the toilet,” said Director Jeff Luther, of the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office.
The Sheriff’s Office has between 125 and 150 $5 gift cards for CVS to hand out at the eight sites – while supplies last.
Drugs that are flushed – or tossed in the trash – can end up contaminating the water supply.
The Sheriff’s Office has partnered with other law enforcement agencies and businesses around the county to provide convenient places for people to drop off their unwanted and unused drugs.
While the Sheriff’s Office is operating with the environment in mind, the department is also using the event as a way to keep drugs out of the wrong hands.
“We just want them off the street,” Luther said, noting that there is a growing problem of prescription drug abuse.
Luther said that there is a history of children getting into drugs found at home, as well as a growing trend of other people coming into homes taking the drugs.
There have been cases in Florida of pest control, electricians, cable and phone workers and others raiding customers’ medicine cabinets searching for pills.
“People just forget about them,” Luther said of old prescriptions.
Saturday could serve as a way for people to remember to clean out their cabinets and toss their prescriptions safely.
This is only the second year the Sheriff’s Office has participated in Operation Medicine Cabinet. Last year fetched five pounds of pills, according to Luther.
This year, the department hopes to collect more.
While the Sheriff’s Office is focusing on cleaning up narcotics and prescription drugs, Luther said that the department would accept any drugs – be they prescription lotions and ointments, liquids, or over the counter remedies.
“We want everything,” Luther said.
People can drop off their drugs no questions asked, according to Luther.
Authorities will collect the drugs from the various locations and take them to a secure site where the drugs will be placed in an incinerator and burned.
Those who have drugs to get rid of and cannot make it to Operation Medicine Cabinet can drop their prescriptions off at the Sheriff’s Office any time of year, Luther said.
Where to go:
CVS: 8495 Old Dixie Hwy., Wabasso
Gifford Youth Activity Center: 4875 43rd Ave., Gifford
Indian River Shores Police Department: 6001 N. A1A, Indian River Shores
Fellsmere Police Department: 21 S. Cypress St., Fellsmere
CVS: 4215 9th St. SW, Vero Beach
Vero Fashion Outlet: 1824 94th Dr., Vero Beach
Walgreens: 13613 Roseland Rd., Sebastian
Sunoco: 9020 County Road 512, Sebastian