Operation Medicine Cabinet Nets "All-Time" Record of Drugs

Sunday morning, the Pinellas County Sheriff's office announced "Operation Medicine Cabinet" collected more than one thousand pounds of unwanted and unused medications. Officials called the amount an "all-time record" for the program, which was held for sixth time on Saturday.

The Pinellas County Strategic Diversion Task Force sponsored Operation Medicine Cabinet as part of  the second annual Florida Statewide "Drug Take Back Event" and in combination with "Project Drug Drop" of the Narcotic and Dangerous Drugs Information System (NADDIS), a part of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

To date, the total collected weight of all Operation Medicine Cabinet operations, including the 1038.10 pounds collected on Saturday, amount to more than 2.5 tons of medications.

Thirteen sites across Pinellas County collected the unwanted medications with eight law enforcement agencies: Pinellas County Sheriffs as well as the police departments of Saint Petersburg, Clearwater, St. Pete Beach, Pinellas Park, Tarpon Springs and Treasure Island.

In a press release, Narcotic Division Sgt. Dan Zsido attributed the success of the program to "law enforcement, community and business partnerships" as well as the "assistance of the many volunteers participated in the collection effort and the media's preview coverage of the event."

Those who could not participate in the event may still drop off expired or unneeded medications in the lobby of the Sheriff's Administration Building at 10750 Ulmerton Road in Largo or at the North District Station at 737 Louden Avenue in Dunedin.