According to the Centers for Disease Control, 46 people die every day as a result of a drug overdose involving prescription opioids. To help combat this problem, The Coalition, Inc. recently partnered with the Diboll Police Department to install a Prescription Drug Drobox in the Diboll Police Department lobby. Sharon Kruk, Executive Director of The Coalition commented, “Angelina County is not immune to the opioid epidemic and The Coalition is committed to protecting our citizens from the harms of prescription drug misuse and abuse.”
With funds from the Texas Targeted Opioid Response grant, The Coalition, Inc. purchased the drop box and worked with the Diboll Police Department to permanently install the box in their lobby. Diboll Police Chief Steve Baker commented, “Diboll P.D. is proud to partner with The Coalition to provide this resource to residents in Diboll and the surrounding area. By safely disposing leftover or expired medications, local citizens can play their part in keeping prescription drugs off the streets and out of the hands of those who will misuse them.”
The Diboll Police Department drop box is available 24 hours a day and 7 days a week in the Diboll Police Department lobby. Accepted drugs/medications include: prescription medications, patches, ointments, cough syrups, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, medication samples and pet medications. Items that are not accepted in the drop box are needles, lancets, syringes, aerosol cans, inhalers, thermometers, alcohol/peroxide, medication from businesses or clinics, and personal care products.
With this resource project, The Coalition hopes to reduce the amount of prescription drugs in Angelina County. Since 1988, The Coalition has focused on eliminating the use of harmful substances by affecting public policy, laws, attitudes and behaviors, all in an effort to foster healthy life-long choices for the local community. For more information about prescription drugs or opioids, contact Sharon Kruk at The Coalition at 936-634-9308.
