***Update as of 4:45 p.m. on October 22, 2016***

Who:
Pinellas County Sheriff's Office
Patrol Operations Bureau
-Crime Prevention and Community Awareness Unit
-Community Policing Unit

Live Free! Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition of Pinellas County

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

What:
The Operation Medicine Cabinet collected 303.5 pounds of medication.

When:
In conjunction with the 12th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, Operation Medicine Cabinet was held from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., on Saturday, October 22, 2016.

Where:
The event was held at eleven locations across Pinellas County to include north, mid and south county.

Why/How:
The breakdown of results for Operation Medicine Cabinet is as follows:

Pinellas County Sheriff's Office
Sheriff's Administration Building:        22 lbs
North District Station:                           14 lbs
St. Pete Beach:                                     9 lbs

                                 TOTAL:                           45 lbs

Largo Police Department:                     18.5 lbs

Clearwater Police Department:             165 lbs

Pinellas Park Police Department:         16 lbs

Gulfport Police Department:     10 lbs

St. Petersburg Police Department:       49 lbs

TOTAL WEIGHTS FOR ALL AGENCIES:  303.5 LBS

The event is an opportunity for residents to safely discard unused or expired prescription medications; and is a multi-agency effort aimed at addressing the problem of prescription drug abuse and keeping a clean environment.

Operation Medicine Cabinet events began in May 2009 and have been held semi-annually since then.

Drop-off containers inside Pinellas County Sheriff's Office Central Station (Largo) and North County District Station (Dunedin) are open year round.

***End of Update***

***Original News Release***

Who:
Pinellas County Sheriff's Office
Patrol Operations Bureau
-Crime Prevention and Community Awareness Unit
-Community Policing Unit

Live Free! Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition of Pinellas County

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

What:
The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, in partnership with the Live Free! Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition of Pinellas County, will hold Operation Medicine Cabinet (OMC) for residents to safely dispose of unused or expired prescription medications free of charge.

When:
In conjunction with the 12th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, Operation Medicine Cabinet will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., on Saturday, October 22, 2016.

Where:

Eleven drop-off locations throughout Pinellas County (listed below).

How/Why:

The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, in partnership with the Live Free! Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition of Pinellas County, will hold Operation Medicine Cabinet for residents to safely dispose of unused or expired prescription medications free of charge.

In conjunction with the 12th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, Operation Medicine Cabinet will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Saturday, October 22, 2016, at 11 drop-off locations (see list below).

According to National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day organizers, more than 6.4 million pounds of medication have been collected over the last 11 Take Back Days.

No bio-hazard items or needles will be accepted. Operation Medicine Cabinet is intended for the citizens of Pinellas County and not for commercial use. The OMC drop-off sites will only be at the following locations:

North County Locations
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office North District Station
737 Louden Avenue, Dunedin

Clearwater Police Department
27001 US Highway 19 North (Countryside Mall near LA Fitness)

Mid County Locations
Largo Police Department
2400 East Bay Drive, Largo (Winn Dixie parking lot)

Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office Administration Building
10750 Ulmerton Road, Largo

Pinellas Park Police Department
7751 49th Street, Pinellas Park (Walgreens)

South County Locations
Kenneth City Police Department
4600 58th Street North, Kenneth City

St. Petersburg Police Department
1300 1st Avenue North, St. Petersburg

8151 Dr. MLK Street North, St. Petersburg (Target parking lot)

1050 58th Street North, St. Petersburg (Winn Dixie Tyrone Gardens
Shopping Center)

St. Pete Beach
7701 Boca Ciega Drive St. Pete Beach (Community Center)

Gulfport Police Department
5501 27th Avenue South, Gulfport (Gulfport Senior Center)

For more information about Operation Medicine Cabinet visit www.pcsoweb.com/operation-medicine-cabinet or contact the Sheriff’s Public Information Office at 727-582-2222.

Media is welcome to cover this event.