Operation Medicine Cabinet Collects Unused, Expired Prescription Drugs

It used to be cocaine and crack, but prescription drugs are increasingly the drug of choice for addicts in Hillsborough County, according to an undercover agent with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.

"We have three or four prescription drug overdoses a week now in Hillsborough County alone. It's a very big problem," said the Brandon detective.

"It used to be cocaine but now it's Oxycodone, Xanax and those types of drugs that can be obtained legally with a prescription," he said.

Those were just some of the drugs collected Saturday, Aug. 27, during Operation Medicine Cabinet, an effort to remove unused or expired prescription drugs from the home. The drive was sponsored by the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, the Tampa Police Department, the Hillsborough County Anti-Drug Alliance and

Deputies and volunteers from the anti-drug alliance collected the pills in a special locked mailbox at Sweetbay in Valrico, 2535 State Road 60 E., and Tampa. The Valrico store collected more than 50 pounds of prescription drugs as residents brought in their unused or expired prescription drugs.

The anti-drug alliance also provided free educational materials at the collection sites.

“We are doing this because we want to keep children and the wider community drug-free and keep our environment clean. Drugs that are flushed down a toilet can do damage to the water supply,” said Ellen Shelling of the anti-drug alliance.

“The medicine cabinet in the home is the No. 1 source for young people to get prescription drugs. We want to keep these drugs out of the wrong hands," she said.

According to anti-drug advocates, prescription drug abuse is killing seven people a day in Florida. There were 250 deaths related to prescription drug abuse in 2009, according to the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner. In 1995, that number was just 25.

Saturday’s event was the this year in the greater Brandon area but Shelling would like to see more.

“We would like to have a drug take-back every couple of months. I know there are more people out there who have prescription drugs they want to get rid of.”

The undercover officer would welcome that.

“These types of drugs are easier to get than cocaine or other drugs. They go to a doctor and get a prescription for one of these drugs, which can be bought at a pharmacy for $2.50 a pill. They then go out and sell the drugs for $15 a pill. They can make a lot of money.”

The Hillsborough County Anti-Drug Alliance offers the following advice and precautions:

• Safeguard all drugs at home. Monitor quantities and control access.
• Set clear rules for teens about all drug use, including not sharing medicine and always following the medical provider’s advice and dosages.
• Be a good role model by following these same rules with your own medicines.
• Properly conceal and dispose of old or unused medicines in the trash.
• Ask friends and family to safeguard their prescription drugs as well.
• To learn more about teen prescription drug abuse, visit www.TheAntiDrug.com or call 1-800-788-2800 to request free materials.