The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office has collected 250 pounds of expired or unneeded prescription medication in the past three months, with about a third of that figure being handed over during the recent Prescription Drug Takeback Day.

Takeback Day took place on April 27, a county-wide effort to encourage residents to drop off their unneeded medications to help prevent their misuse and abuse.

Speaking to the Fountain Hills Youth Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition on May 9, MCSO Captain Larry Kratzer had what he called “good news” to share with those in attendance.

During just a four-hour block of time on Takeback Day, local authorities collected 92.2 pounds of unneeded medications.

Kratzer said this was a sure sign that the message of Prescription Drug Takeback Day was “getting out there” and that it’s a sign local residents appreciate the seriousness of the cause.

Kratzer added that one factor that could have helped boost Fountain Hills’ haul for Drug Takeback Day was the fact that a lot of residents were hitting the road for the summer and took advantage of the well-timed opportunity to clean out their cabinets.

On top of events like Prescription Drug Takeback Day, Fountain Hills is home to a permanent drop box located next to the MCSO office within Town Hall. Anyone can use this drop box during normal business hours by simply pouring their unwanted pills into a sealable bag and then dropping them into the box. No liquids, gels or sharps should be dropped off in this way.

On top of the 92.2 pounds gathered during Takeback Day, Kratzer said the permanent drop-box has been used well through early 2019. A total of 56.2 pounds were gathered in March, with 48.4 pounds gathered in April and another 61.2 pounds gathered in early May.