Latest news, weather and high school sports for Albany and Southwest Georgia

LOWNDES COUNTY, GA -- Lowndes County Sheriff Chris Prine is pleased to announce the continuation of the department’s recent efforts to assist the citizens with the safe disposal of unused or expired medications.

According to Prine, the agencies D.A.R.E. officers have recently participated in cooperative efforts with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in which deputies traveled to various business locations in order to accept items for disposal from the public. This effort resulted in the collection of a large quantity of prescription medications and displayed the need for a continued effort.

It was stated in a report by the DEA that recent operations over a 13 month period by the DEA and local law enforcement agencies resulted in the collection of 498 tons of prescription medications nationwide.

“People are prescribed medications on a regular basis that for many reasons often go unused. This effort provides a safe alternative for the destruction of these medications,” Prine says. Many of these medications simply end up sitting in the medicine cabinet unused or stolen. The Sheriff's Office says studies have shown that the majority of prescription medication thefts were committed by someone known to the victim or teenage children within the home.

The drop box is in the lobby of the Lowndes County Jail which is accessible to the public 24 hours a day; however, the Sheriff’s Office cannot accept syringes, liquids or ointments.

For additional information please contact the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office at (229) 671-2900.