The Need for Drug Drop-Offs in Tucson, Arizona
With the abuse of prescription painkillers and opioids like heroin on the rise, initiatives out of all corners of the country have been put forth in an effort to decrease the presence of this form of substance abuse. These initiatives have included efforts such as increasing the amounts of beds available within treatment centers, providing more funding for outpatient programs, and training and supplying law enforcement officials, first responders, and the public with naloxone, a medication used in the event that one has overdosed on opioids to help reverse the effects.
However, one of the most common and effective methods of helping to curb the increased presence of opioid addiction within communities is the development of Dispose-A-Med. Dispose-A-Med is a program that was developed in 2009 and is utilized within the Tucson, Arizona area. This program is intended to help get unused drugs off of the streets and out of the homes of residents within Pima County and its surrounding communities in order to help decrease instances of opioid abuse. In addition, the program is also an effort in being environmentally conscious, as it can provide places for medications to be collected so they are not flushed down the toilet, washed down the sink, thrown in the garbage, etc.
According to the Dispose-A-Med’s official website, this program provides a number of different boxes in the area for residents to turn in their unused medications. This is to help protect the environment, protect children, pets, and wildlife, and prevent potential prescription drug abuse.
If you live in the area, it is imperative to know that you cannot just bring anything you have to these boxes, as there are guidelines to help maintain the efficacy of the program. The medications that are accepted include expired, unused, or unneeded medications, over-the-counter medications, tablets, capsules, vitamins, and medications prescribed by veterinarians. These boxes cannot accept liquids, creams, inhalation devices, aerosol bottles, sharps, hazardous waste from one’s household, or batteries. For more information on how to dispose of these items, you can visit the website.
Pima County Dispose-A-Med Locations
Within the Pima County area, there are many permanent Dispose-A-Med boxes available. See below for a complete list of locations:
TUCSON POLICE DEPARTMENT:
- Southside Santa Cruz Substation – 4410 S. Park Ave
- Westside Police Service Center – 1310 W. Miracle Mile
- Midtown Substation – 1100 S. Alvernon Way
- Downtown Main Station – 270 S. Stone Ave
- Eastside Rincon Substation – 9670 E. Golf Links Road
PIMA COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT
- Green Valley – 602 N. La Canada Drive
- Rincon – 8999 E. Tanque Verde Road
- Foothills – 7300 N. Shannon Rd.
- Ajo – 1249 Ajo Well Road
- San Xavier – 2545 W. Ajo Way
- Tucson Mountain – 6261 N. Sandario Road
SOUTH TUCSON POLICE DEPARTMENT
- Police Department – 1601 S. 6th Ave
In addition, Walgreens Pharmacies in the area also house Dispose-A-Med boxes. These locations, unlike the police departments, are open 24 hours a day and abide by the same rules.
To learn more about how you or your loved ones can help decrease the presence of opioid addiction in your area, reach out to a treatment center in the greater Tucson area. If you are struggling with an addiction to opioids on a personal level, please contact a qualified treatment center like Sonora Behavioral Health as soon as possible so we can provide you with the utmost quality of care and assistance to help you overcome your struggles with this disease.