7 months ago
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They've teamed up for "Operation Medicine Cabinet" the first one-day event of its kind in the city to eliminate the abuse of prescription drugs. They want to get any and all medicine you're not using, out of our home so they' don't end up in someone else's hands.
They're becoming the drug of choice for teens, a generation being labeled Generation Rx.
Lt. Kevin Russell with the Benton Police Department says, "We're seeing a rise and increase in the abuse of prescription drugs in the last decade across the nation and here locally in Arkansas."
Local security at high schools say they've built relationships with kids and some have opened up and talked about prescription drug abuse and Pharm parties. That's when kids collect prescription drugs, put them all in a bowl and take them to see what happens.
"It's as dangerous if not more dangerous than a lot of drugs. Actually prescription drugs have taken over from cocaine and meth as far as being the number two drug of choice among teenagers just by behind marijuana so it's a very rampant problem," Lt. Russell adds.
These signs are why the community is coming together for the first Operation Medicine Cabinet, just bring medicine you don't use, no questions asked.
Jim & Shelli Russell dropped off several medications. Jim explains, "We started going through our cabinets when we heard they were doing the program, we were trying to figure out do we actually so all this stuff, and do we need it? We were finding prescription drugs that were expired or things that had been prescribed, but we switch to something else. We decided this would be a good way to dispose of all that."
One in 5 teenagers has admitted to abusing prescription medications, Lt. Kevin Russell says they hope to eliminate the availability and educate the public during "Operation Medicine Cabinet."
He continues, "It keeps it from being able to fall into the wrong hands. It's a felony to have prescription drugs that do not belong to you, so yes it is breaking the law."
Saturday was a success, they've counted 24,000 pills. Operation Medicine Cabinet was a one day event, but they're working on a permanent drop off at the police department. For now you can contact your local pharmacy to see if they'll dispose you're medications.
The pills collected will be taken to Rhinco Refinery in Haskell for disposal.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, you should not flush your medication because it can actually end up back in the cities water system.
