Pill Drop-Off Stations Draw Crowds

Leah Murdick was just like the hundreds of people turning in their bottles of prescription medication Saturday morning.

"This might be a record," one sheriff's deputy said as he watched her take out bottle upon bottle from a large shopping bag during the first-ever Operation Medicine Cabinet.

Murdick's bathroom drawers were stuffed with pills, drops and antibiotics that were expired or otherwise useless to her.

"My husband passed away and I just didn't know what to do with them," said Murdick, who turned in 66 bottles in front of the Wal-Mart along Cortez Boulevard. "This took care of it all."

The old method of flushing the tablets down the toilet is no longer recommended. Stories of children stealing and abusing the prescription drugs are common these days.

The number of deaths by overdose is increasing from year to year in Hernando County.

Some are finding it hard to get rid of their poisonous pills.

Capt. Jim Walker, of the Hernando County Sheriff's Office, knew of other counties that were organizing drug drop-off stations for their residents.

He followed their lead and organized two simultaneously on Saturday. They were held at the Wal-Mart stores located at Cortez Boulevard and Commercial Way, respectively.

For six hours, deputies asked people to lay their pill bottles on the table. They counted them and dumped them into a large box.

"From what I've seen, the response has been outstanding," said Walker. "People are very happy because they didn't know where to take them."

Most people were like Murdick - seniors who had left-over drugs from their deceased spouses.

One lady walked up to the deputy's station and shook their hands. She had no pills to give away. She merely wanted to thank them for offering the service.

Walker was not sure when the sheriff's office would set up more drop-off stations, but said he expected a region-wide effort to take place in either May or June, which would include Hillsborough County and others. He hopes to take part in that one, he said.

The sheriff's office also mounted billboard across the county warning people of the dangers of prescription drug abuse. Public-service announcements also are shown at the local movie theaters.