Page 13 - Nov/Dec 2015 Vol. 33 No. 5
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a few programs in the United States is available to anyone 24 hours a day, 7 Furthermore, 1,700 mercury thermom-
that collects both over-the-counter and days a week at the downtown Police Safety eters were collected and exchanged for
prescription medications. In fact, the very Building. digital thermometers at the collection
reason that the program exists was in events. All collected medications and ther-
order to create a local model for commu- The drop box is a lasting and sustained mometers are recorded and maintained
nities in Tennessee. Now that the model commitment that the Knoxville Police in a database as well as the participant zip
is in place, many other communities plan Department took the initiative to establish codes in order to identify where the com-
their own events. The material is disposed so that whether or not future events were mittee should target future events.
of by the Knoxville Police Department planned, the public would have a place
by incineration with illegal drugs seized to properly and safely dispose of their The level of multi-level, inter-agency,
throughout the year. The plastic contain- medication. and cross-jurisdictional cooperation that
ers and paper packaging is recycled by the has been achieved as part of the medica-
Solid Waste Office. Since the commitment to the drop box tion task force is amazing. The cooperation
was established, TDEC has provided drop is impressive since it is often so difficult to
“Our total weight collected since the boxes for free to law enforcement agencies get so many agencies to sit at one table. The
program began in 2008 is now 16,112.92 across the state. Some of the events have following partners are involved with medi-
lbs., or just over 8 tons,” Homa said. been paired with other activities such as cation collection and the list keeps grow-
America Recycles Day or Earth Day Events ing: local media sponsors, the Knoxville
As a pilot program there were several that encourage one-on-one face-to-face Police Department, the City of Knoxville
educational opportunities available to the interaction. Participants may drop off Solid Waste, Knox County Solid Waste,
committee to promote proper disposal of their medications and then proceed to in- the Knox County Health Department, the
medications. The task force initially only formational booths or speak to task force University of Tennessee Student Pharmacy
envisioned medication collection as an members regarding the goals and objec- Association, Tennessee Department of En-
event-driven program. While conducting tives for having a collection program. vironment and Conservation, the Knoxville
the first event, it became evident that there Furthermore, to promote the events, Utilities Board, the Metropolitan Drug
needed to be something more permanent. informative advertisements and public Commission, a pharmaceutical reverse
If residents could not attend events, they service announcements are aired in order distributor and several local pharmacies. As
needed to have options besides waiting to educate participants and increase atten- more entities learn about the project, more
for the next event, which could be three dance. There are handouts, brochures and people attend planning meetings ready
to four months apart. The majority of weblinks from several task force members’ to commit whatever resources they have
medication collected has been from the websites. Education is key to sustaining at their disposal to make the events and
one-day collection events but they served future events and the permanent drop box overall program successful.
to promote the permanent drop box that collection.
View online at tnpublicworks.com 13
that collects both over-the-counter and days a week at the downtown Police Safety eters were collected and exchanged for
prescription medications. In fact, the very Building. digital thermometers at the collection
reason that the program exists was in events. All collected medications and ther-
order to create a local model for commu- The drop box is a lasting and sustained mometers are recorded and maintained
nities in Tennessee. Now that the model commitment that the Knoxville Police in a database as well as the participant zip
is in place, many other communities plan Department took the initiative to establish codes in order to identify where the com-
their own events. The material is disposed so that whether or not future events were mittee should target future events.
of by the Knoxville Police Department planned, the public would have a place
by incineration with illegal drugs seized to properly and safely dispose of their The level of multi-level, inter-agency,
throughout the year. The plastic contain- medication. and cross-jurisdictional cooperation that
ers and paper packaging is recycled by the has been achieved as part of the medica-
Solid Waste Office. Since the commitment to the drop box tion task force is amazing. The cooperation
was established, TDEC has provided drop is impressive since it is often so difficult to
“Our total weight collected since the boxes for free to law enforcement agencies get so many agencies to sit at one table. The
program began in 2008 is now 16,112.92 across the state. Some of the events have following partners are involved with medi-
lbs., or just over 8 tons,” Homa said. been paired with other activities such as cation collection and the list keeps grow-
America Recycles Day or Earth Day Events ing: local media sponsors, the Knoxville
As a pilot program there were several that encourage one-on-one face-to-face Police Department, the City of Knoxville
educational opportunities available to the interaction. Participants may drop off Solid Waste, Knox County Solid Waste,
committee to promote proper disposal of their medications and then proceed to in- the Knox County Health Department, the
medications. The task force initially only formational booths or speak to task force University of Tennessee Student Pharmacy
envisioned medication collection as an members regarding the goals and objec- Association, Tennessee Department of En-
event-driven program. While conducting tives for having a collection program. vironment and Conservation, the Knoxville
the first event, it became evident that there Furthermore, to promote the events, Utilities Board, the Metropolitan Drug
needed to be something more permanent. informative advertisements and public Commission, a pharmaceutical reverse
If residents could not attend events, they service announcements are aired in order distributor and several local pharmacies. As
needed to have options besides waiting to educate participants and increase atten- more entities learn about the project, more
for the next event, which could be three dance. There are handouts, brochures and people attend planning meetings ready
to four months apart. The majority of weblinks from several task force members’ to commit whatever resources they have
medication collected has been from the websites. Education is key to sustaining at their disposal to make the events and
one-day collection events but they served future events and the permanent drop box overall program successful.
to promote the permanent drop box that collection.
View online at tnpublicworks.com 13
