Sheriff’s Department unveils drug take-back box
By Melissa Rollins, Editor, editor@newsandpress.net
With an opioid addiction crisis sweeping across the nation, the Darlington County Sheriff’s Department is working to combat the problem at home.
Last Friday afternoon, the department held a press conference to announce the arrival of a drug take-back box that they received courtesy of a grant.
Lt. Governor Kevin Bryant talks about the new drug take-back box that will allow citizens to drop off old and unused prescription medications for them to be disposed of securely. Photo By Melissa Rollins
“We want to thank the Lieutenant Governor’s office for making it possible for the Darlington County Sheriff’s Department to be able to serve the citizens of Darlington County a little bit better by being able to provide a prescription drug take-back box,” Darlington County Sheriff Tony Chavis said.
Lt. Governor Kevin Bryant was at the press conference to help introduce the new program.
“We have an opioid crisis that is crippling not only communities all over our state but communities all over the whole country,” Bryant said. “There are several factors that lead into this problem and several solutions that may help this problem. One of those solutions is a drug take-back program.”
Bryant said that his office believes offering these boxes will help keep medication out of the hands of those at risk for developing an addiction.
“Through the Office of Aging, we have made this offer to law enforcement all over the state because one solution to this problem is asking folks to clear out their medicine cabinet, things they don’t need, things that are expired, and just return them for proper disposal,” Bryant said. “Four out of every five heroin users began with a prescription opioid. If we can just get those opioids that are not needed out of the medicine cabinet, out of the hands of children, then that might help us tackle this severe problem all over the state.”
Chavis said that there would be no questions asked of anyone using the box.
“You bring it in, you put it in; you don’t have to check in with nobody,” Chavis said. “Bring it in and our evidence custodian will get it and it will be destroyed.”
The box will be in the lobby of the Sheriff’s Department Office. Medications can be dropped off Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and the third Saturday of the month from 8 to 10 a.m.
“This box is secure and folks from all around Darlington County, or anywhere really, can dispose of their old expired, unused medications,” Bryant said. “Its’ not just opioids; its anything that’s not needed.”
City of Darlington Police Chief Kelvin Washington was also present at the press conference. He said that he hopes that the take-back program is successful.
“What affects one of us affects all of us,” Washington said. “All of us have sworn to protect and serve the citizens of the county as well as the citizens of the city. Anytime there is something positive going on in the county with the sheriff’s department there is going to be a positive affect on the residents of the City of Darlington. We applaud their efforts and we look forward to continued success with that.”