COCOA POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:  Yvonne Martinez, Public Information Officer, 321-243-7812

Hundreds of Pounds of Medication Set for Safe Disposal
(Cocoa, FL)—The Cocoa Police Department’s Property and Evidence Division collected 14 pounds of prescription medications during Saturday’s Drug Take Back. This total, combined with what was already collected in two drug disposal boxes in the main lobby brings the amount of unwanted, expired and unused medication collected to nearly 400 pounds.  All of it will be turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Orlando field office for safe disposal.

The DEA’s drug take back occurs twice a year, in April and October. It is a nationwide effort to encourage the public to clean out medicine cabinets of medications that are no longer used. Unused or expired prescription medications are a public safety issue. Proper disposal of these drugs saves lives, protects the environment, and the overall welfare of the community. If these medications are left in homes, they can potentially be misused or end up in the wrong hands. 

In addition to participating in the DEA’s National Drug Take Back efforts each year, the Cocoa Police Department has two drug disposal bins available year-round. These bins are in the main lobby and the public can drop off any medications during regular business hours, 8 AM – 5 PM, Monday – Friday, no questions asked. Needles and other sharp objects should be disposed of in a safe biohazard box at most local fire departments.

The Cocoa Police Department is an accredited law enforcement agency since 2006 through the Commission for Law Enforcement Accreditation. The Police Department is at 1226 W. King St., Cocoa, FL 32922.