Decrease Unintentional Poisonings Due to

Prescription Drug Abuse and/or Misuse

Priority

Decrease Unintentional Poisonings Due to Prescription Drug Abuse and/or Misuse

94 ^%

HEROIN DEATHS ARE ACCIDENTAL

50 ^%

INCREASE FROM 2013 IN FLORIDA DEATHS WITH HEROIN PRESENT IN BODIES.

84 ^%

INCREASE IN FENTANYL DEATHS SINCE 2013

50 ^%

INCREASE FROM 2013 IN FLORIDA DEATHS WITH HEROIN PRESENT IN BODIES.

*source Florida Medical Examiner’s Report 2014

Since 2013, all law enforcement agencies within Sarasota County at least (1) permanent prescription drug drop box.

There are currently (5) permanent prescription drug drop boxes within the county.

2014-County-wide participation in the final Drug Enforcement Agency take-back day.

Secure. Monitor. Dispose.

WATCH THE PSA.

AIM:

Educate community members about permanent disposal sites.
Continued collaborative efforts with surrounding counties by advertising their permanent disposal sites.
Partnering with all law enforcement agencies to promote a collaborative and consistent message to the community.

All law enforcement agencies in Sarasota County have collected over 13,000lbs of unused/expired prescription medication since 2009.

Although there was a 2.6% decrease in the amount of medications collected between they years 2013 and 2014; in the first (5) months of 2015, 1,980.95 pounds of unused/expired prescription medication has been collected. This is more than half of the 2014 year-end total.

Initiatives Overview

NATIONAL PRESCRIPTION DRUG TAKE BACK DAY

The National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day aims to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of unused and expired prescription drugs, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of medications.

SAFE RX DROP BOX INITIATIVE

The coalition has successfully set up and promoted Alternative Safe Disposal Methods in Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte and DeSoto County.

COALITION PSA DEVELOPMENT & PROMOTION

Development of PSAs in partnership with Law Enforcement and Medical Community.

SAFE RX DISPOSAL POUCHES FOR HOMEBOUND POPULATION

The coalition has successfully set up and promoted Alternative Safe RX Disposal methods in Sarasota County for the homebound community.

Physician's Electronic Opioid Brochure

An interactive electronic brochure which medical professionals can use to educate patients on dangers of RX ABUSE and MISUSE and how and where to SAFELY dispose of them safely.

Community Opioid Save a Life Brochure

Education on naloxone, its availability and use. Florida law protecting those who report overdose.

COMMUNITY RX DISPOSAL CARDS

“DRIVE UP. DROP OFF. NO QUESTIONS ASKED.”
Dumping medicines down the drain?
RX ABUSE and MISUSE disposal card handouts for general public on how and where they can drop off unused and expired RX Medications.
AVAILABLE in ENGLISH and SPANISH.

PHARMACY HANDOUT DISPOSAL CARDS

Handouts given to cooperating pharmacies instructing users on where and how to dispose of unused and expired RX safely.
AVAILABLE in ENGLISH and SPANISH.

DRUG FREE YOUTH PROGRAM

Students sign a pact to not take drugs, alcohol, or tobacco – agree to random testing – and get free and discounted items from local partnering small businesses.

DESIGNER DRUG AWARENESS

Education on the dangers and increased incidence of Designer Drugs.
What are designer drugs?

Drug Free Sarasota Physician Advocate Award Program

A recruitment program for our Sarasota Physicians to engage an “educate while you wait” informational campaign targeting our patient population around Sarasota out of their waiting and exam rooms.

With our Coalition Members - We are Achieving a Measurable Difference

Safe Option Now Available for

Homebound Residents

to Dispose of Prescription Medications

Drug Free Sarasota is partnering with the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Department of Health in Sarasota County (DOH-Sarasota) to offer prescription medication disposal alternatives to homebound residents.

The Deterra Drug Activation System allows individuals to put their medication in a bag containing a carbon that bonds to pharmaceutical compounds when water is added. The user then adds water and shakes it up to neutral-ize the active ingredient in the drug before disposing of the biodegradable bag in the safety of their own home.

Deterra pouches can be picked up at the following Sarasota County locations while supplies last:

Sarasota
William L. Little Health & Human Services Center
2200 Ringling Blvd.

Sarasota County Government Complex Environmental Health Office,
1001 Sarasota Center Blvd.

North Port
North Port Health Center
6950 Outreach Way

Venice
Robert L. Anderson County Administration Center Environmental
Health Office
4000 S. Tamiami Trail

Citizens are still encouraged to drop off their unwanted/unused prescription medications in one of two permanent drop boxes located in the lobbies of the sheriff’s office north and south locations:

2071 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota
and
4531 State Road 776
Venice

Both are accessible to the public seven days a week; 24 hours a day in Sarasota and from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., in Venice. Since their inception in 2009, more than 19,000 pounds of unused and expired medicines have been collected in Sarasota County.

click map to view all drop box locations

Our

COALITION STRATEGIES AND SUCCESS

Community RX Disposal Flyers - Over 30,000 Flyers Have Gone Into the Community Since January 2016 and we continue to partner with over 12 community agencies to distribute.

CVS Piloted S (11) Stores County-wide to Promote Disposal Cards

103,000 Flyers Delivered to CVS for Distribution Since Jan. 2016

We are growing our community educational offerings through free CME/CE classes and training with our outstanding medical partnerships

We are assisting in creation and promotion of powerful PSAs beside our law enforcement agencies.

Community Health Action Teams, Sheriff's office, Clean Start and EMS will distribute Opioid Community Brochures

The coalition supports local a local youth-driven and community supported program which provides incentives for youth who pledge to refrain from the use of drugs.