Gwinnett Sheriff's Office Has Prescription Drug Disposal System

The Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Department has installed a “Big White Box” in the lobby of the Gwinnett Detention Center to help citizens properly dispose of prescription (RX) and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs that are out of date or not needed any more.

Prescription drug abuse among all age groups is currently being reported by law enforcement agencies across the state and country as a real and growing danger, according to Lt. Sean Smith, public information officer for the Gwinnett Sheriff’s Office, in a news release.

In addition, unsafe disposal of Rx and OTC medications is costly to our environment and, therefore, to our health, he said.

The Council on Alcohol and Drugs recently launched a Drug Drop Box Campaign by donating a Drug Drop Box to virtually every county in the state that requested one (128 counties to date.) 

The Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office has installed its “Big White Box” at the Gwinnett County Jail, 2900 University Pkwy., in Lawrenceville. The “Big White Box” is accessible to the public 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, just inside the main entrance doors, Smith said.

The Drug Drop Box Campaign aims to keep these drugs out of the hands of children and teens, off the street, prevent overdoses and accidental poisonings, and avoid environmental contamination by not throwing drugs in the toilet, sink, or trash.

Items that can be placed in these secure drug drop boxes include expired and unused prescription (non-narcotics and narcotics), OTC drugs, medication samples, medicated ointment/lotion, drops, inhalers, unopened epi-pens, herbals, and veterinary medications. Items that should not be placed in the boxes include needles or sharps, biohazard materials, and illegal drugs.

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