Almost 1,000 pounds of expired medications were taken and destroyed in NE Florida

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Florida Poison Information Center, Drug Free Duval, and Project Opioid partnered with local law enforcement for Drug Take Back.

This event is to help prevent drugs from being misused, accidental poisonings, and overdoses from happening.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

“I want to say thank you to all the people in Duval, Clay, St. Johns and Nassau Counties who cleaned out their medicine cabinets. Too many children are getting poisoned with prescription and non-prescription medicine because it is readily available in the home. Getting rid of medication that is no longer needed takes the threat out of the home,”

—  Florida Poison Information Center Jacksonville Director Dawn Sollee

These were the counties that were involved in this year’s takeback event.

Read: Father dies trying to save daughter from rip current at Fernandina Beach

• Duval County collected 443 pounds of medications
• St. Johns County collected 360 pounds of medications
• Clay County collected 15.7 pounds of medications
• Nassau County collected 84.5 pounds of medications

According to a Florida Poison Control Center in Jacksonville news release, nearly 109,000 people died from opioid overdoses in 2021 according to the Center for Disease Control. Research has shown as many of 50% of the people who became addicted to opioids got the first pill from a friend or family member.

Read: Beach advisory issued for Duval County coast as Subtropical Storm Nicole approaches

Drug Takebacks are held on the last Saturday of April and October each year. Between events, people can find a location near them to drop off medication for safe disposal by visiting floridapoisoncontrol.org.

[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]

Read: ‘Things happen so fast’: Motorcyclists talk safety amid weekend deadly crashes

[SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter]

Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.