On April 25, 2024 we turned in 59.8 pounds of unwanted and unused drugs during the Drug Take Back for the Spring which included six months of medications that were dropped off. Since we installed our new drop box in 2019, we have collected 643.6 pounds of drugs! Thank you to our residents who utilize the drug drop box and help to keep our community safe and healthier!
Gerrish Township Police Department has installed a newer Drug Drop Box for unwanted, unused, and expired medications.
This box was received on November 15, 2019 through a grant written by Chief Hill from the Rite Aid Kids Cents Foundation (Keeping Kids Safe makes sense to us) with no cost to the department or the community.
This will assist the police department with collecting and safely disposing of medications. Like the old drug drop box, this new one is located just outside the front entrance of the Gerrish Police Department and is available to drop items off 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you have a large quantity of drugs to turn in, you can still ring the buzzer during the daytime hours and those items can be accepted directly by an officer or staff inside the building.
DRUG DROP BOX TIPS
- Medications can remain in their original containers with labels (labels and containers are incinerated)
- Insert containers one at a time as slot/baffle system does not allow for bulk disposal
- Do not drop medications in the box loosely – put in sealed or zip lock bags if no container is available
- The drop box is available and accessible at any time of the day – 365 days a year
- Do not drop large containers, liquids, creams, patches, boxes or large bags into the box – these can be dropped off inside the P.D. during daytime hours by pressing the door buzzer for assistance
- NO SHARPS (needles – syringes – injectables)
- NO AEROSOLS (compressed air containers or inhalers)
HISTORY
In 2012, the Gerrish Township Police Department teamed up with ACT NOW and installed a permanent drug drop box at the police department. Proper disposal of prescription and over-the-counter medications can greatly assist in controlling drug abuse and keep our ground water safe by not flushing unused and unwanted drugs down toilets.
This original drug drop box was fabricated by CSI Industries in Grayling and was replaced with a new box in 2019.
In 2014, the Drug Take Back Program through the DEA was discontinued. They have published new regulations that took place on Oct. 9, 2014 and now the public may find authorized collection agencies in their communities. Gerrish Township P.D. continues to collect unwanted and unused drugs at their Drug Drop Box and have teamed up with the Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council out of Petoskey in supporting the drug drop off program as they have an official registered incinerator for proper disposal of drugs per the DEA requirements.
