DEA Take-Back day aims to prevent variety of drug-related problems
By Kyle Carrozza, Staff Writer, The Times
Officer Rodger Ollis and Coatesville Youth Initiative Drug Free Communities coordinator Lula Defersha stand next to over 60 lbs of drugs collected on Saturday.
COATESVILLE – Coatesville Police, in cooperation with the DEA and the Coatesville Youth Initiative, collected an estimated 60 lbs. of prescription drugs during Saturday’s Drug Take-Back Day at the city’s Police Station.
The initiative, which saw people lining up before the doors opened at 10 am and a steady stream of people throughout the day allowed residents to turn in unwanted prescription drugs, no questions asked in order to prevent a multitude of problems that they could cause.
“One of these pills in the wrong hands could start the addiction process,” said Officer Rodger Ollis, who oversaw the event.
However, potential for abuse was not the only concern that the program looked to prevent. Unused drugs could cause other crime, such as burglary or illegal sales. Even disposal of pills could cause problems. In the past, people were told to flush their pills or throw them away, but such action could contaminate the environment.
Officer Ollis secures a box of prescriptions with evidence tape.
“Our goal is to keep medications out of water supplies, landfills, and hands they’re not intended to be in,” said Ollis.
Just as the problems these medications cause is not a simple matter, neither is preparation for such an event.
Officer Ollis went out of his way to increase awareness. Along with radio advertisements, Ollis personally went to local multi-family homes to tell them about it. With permission from local businesses, he also posted signs at pharmacies to ensure that people likely to have prescriptions would know.
“Good policing includes prevention and a service-oriented component,” he said.
Prevention is a factor that should not be overlooked. According to a DEA press release, the four previous Drug Take-Back Days have resulted in the collection of nearly 1.6 million pounds nationwide. The number is especially notable considering more people abuse prescription drugs than cocaine, heroin, and hallucinogens combined. Most of these are obtained from family and friends, the release said.
