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October 12, 2012

Prescription Drug Round-up sets record

Transcript Staff The Norman Transcript

NORMAN — The Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office set a record for the year last weekend with its Prescription Drug Round-Up program.

Individuals turned in 445 pounds of medications at Saturday’s round-up. The total was the most collected this year.

In March, citizens gathered and brought 212 pounds of medicine. At a round-up sponsored in June, deputies collected 215 pounds.

Altogether this year, deputies have taken 872 pounds of unwanted medications off the streets. Those prescriptions are taken to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation and destroyed.

Sheriff Joe Lester established the program in 2009 to help citizens rid their homes of old or excess amounts of medications. Prescription drug abuse can cause serious illness or even death.

Lester said Saturday’s total prove the drug round-up benefits the county and its citizens. It curbs access to unwanted prescriptions.

“The Prescription Drug Round-up program works because it’s a partnership between the sheriff’s office and community,” Lester said. “If we didn’t have this relationship, we wouldn’t be able to take 800 pounds of medications out of homes and keep people safe.”

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