Crime & Safety

Safety First: Police Provide Place for Unused Medications

The new drop-box allows Wentzville residents to dispose of drugs.

The Wentzville Police Department has put a permanent drug drop box in the lobby of the police station.

Capt. Kevin Pyatt told Wentzville Patch the box is there so residents can safely dispose of prescription and over-the-counter medications. 

"It is completely anonymous," he said. "There aren't any guidelines. People can come in whenever they want and drop the pills. We ask that people not bring us liquids or syringes."

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Acceptable items for disposal include:

  • Expired/unwanted prescription medications;
  • Expired/unwanted over-the-counter medications;
  • Vitamins/nutritional supplements;
  • Medications for household pets;
  • Homeopathic remedies
  • Epi Pens; and 
  • Medicated lotions.

People can take names, addresses and other identifiable information off the pill bottles if they wish. The box is checked daily and emptied as needed. Then, the drugs will be incinerated. 

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Unacceptable items include the following:

  • Hydrogen peroxide;
  • Empty bottles;
  • Medical waste;
  • Needles or other sharp items;
  • Hazardous waste;
  • Personal care products;
  • Thermometers; and 
  • Trash.

The Food and Drug Administration provides guidelines for disposing of unused medications. An organization calledSMARxT Disposalexplains why simply throwing old pills and other items away may be unsafe.

"Unfortunately, when pills are just thrown in the trash, it can lead to unintended exposure to people or animals," reads a message on the SMARxT Disposal site. "People may go through the trash to obtain unused medications or personal information found on discarded prescription bottles."

Both the FDA and SMARxT Disposal warn that flushing certain pills and medications down the drain or toilet pollutes the water supply.

Pyatt said the police department drop box takes the guesswork out of the process.

"This is just a community service we are providing," he explained. "It ensures that prescriptions or out-of-date over the counter medication is disposed of properly and doesn't fall into the hands of children." 

Pyatt said response to the box has been good so far and several residents have taken advantage of the drop box.

"It's like a mailbox there in the police station lobby — people can just walk in and walk out," Pyatt said. 


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