Sheriff’s Office collects 66 pounds of prescription medications in National Drug Take-Back Day held April 27 at the Walgreens store in Chalmette
Shown under the tent set up to receive old medications are, front row from left, Lt. Pat Childress, Sheriff James Pohlmann, Sgt. Joey Alfonso and Maj. Chad Clark. In back, from left, are Gerard Robinette, district loss prevention manager for Walgreens and Dustin Mares, community leader for Walgreens stores in St. Bernard Parish and eastern New Orleans.
 Jennifer Landry of Chalmette empties old prescription medications in a collection box on April 27. With her are Maj. Chad Clark and Lt. Pat Childress of the Sheriff’s Office. |
 A couple gets rid of their old medications. At left is Sgt. Joey Alfonso and at right is Bill Hagoort , district manager for Walgreen. |
Two youngsters pick out pencils, key chains, coloring books and other items the Sheriff’s Office gave out to children during the drug take-back effort.
In a successful partnering with Walgreens, the Sheriff’s Office collected 66 pounds of old prescription medications from more than 25 people in the National Drug Take-Back Day held April 27 at the Walgreens store in Chalmette, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.
“That’s 66 pounds of prescription drugs that will be incinerated and won’t hit our streets to be abused or thrown down toilets or sinks and ultimately affect our seafood or drinking water,’’ Sheriff Pohlmann said.
“We thank Walgreens for allowing us to collect the medications outside their Chalmette store so people would have a central location to come to,’’ the sheriff said.
Also, Walgreens gave out fliers to their customers in advance of the event to inform them about the National Drug Take-Back Day and the partnership with the Sheriff’s Office.
The Sheriff’s Office has participated for several years in the national drug take-back sponsored by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration. The Sheriff’s Office had began its own take-back day in 2009 called “Operation Medicine Cabinet,’’ which encouraged residents to clean out their medicine cabinets of old prescription drugs and turn them in to the department.
People who came out April 27 helped keep prescription drugs from falling into the wrong hands and “may have saved a young person from starting a life of drugs,’’ the sheriff said.
Collecting the prescriptions were Maj. Chad Clark, head of the sheriff’s Special Investigations Division; Lt. Pat Childress, who is assigned to a Drug Enforcement Administration task force; and Sgt. Joey Alfonso of SID.
Sheriff Pohlmann also came by to thank Walgreens officials. Present from Walgreens were Bill Hagoort, district manager; Dustin Mares, community leader for Walgreens stores in St. Bernard Parish and eastern New Orleans; and Gerard Robinette, district loss prevention manager.
St. Bernard residents are reminded they should call the sheriff’s 271-DOPE hot line any time to report suspected illegal drug activity or the same number if they want to turn in prescription drugs at any time between official drug take-back days. A Narcotics Unit agent will call them back to make arrangements.
;?>/images/top-r-bg.png)
