DRUG DROP BOX GETTING PRESCRIPTION DRUGS OFF STREETS, LANDFILLS AND WATERWAYS

In May 2012, the Ocean City Police Department joined the effort by communities and law enforcement agencies to prevent the abuse of unused prescription medication by becoming the first location in Worcester County to offer a permanent drug drop box. Donated by the Ocean City Elks Lodge, the drug drop box has already recovered numerous pounds of prescription drugs, a portion of which were prescription narcotics.

The Ocean City Police Department’s drug drop box has already proved to be tremendous success by yielding 26 pounds of assorted medication, some of which were narcotics, in the past two weeks alone. “We are extremely pleased with the response we are receiving from the program,” said Chief Bernadette DiPino. “We are proud to be part of a program that has increased the ability of residents and visitors to easily and properly dispose of unneeded, expired or unwanted medicine.”

The drug drop box program, which was launched by the National Association of Drug Diversion Investigators (NADDI), was designed to significantly reduce the prescription drugs in American homes that are either no longer needed or outdated. The Ocean City Police Department reminds citizens that they can dispose of their unwanted medication by using the drug drop box, which is mounted in the lobby of the Public Safety Building, at any time or day.

Police ask citizens who wish to remove their personal information from the medicine container to please leave visible the name of the medication, in order to properly dispose of it. For additional information, please contact the Ocean City Police Department’s Public Affairs Office at 410-723-6665.