WINTER PARK, Fla. – News 6 is committed to bringing the opioid crisis to light and how the epidemic is destroying lives here in Central Florida. Law enforcement agencies are getting results in the fight against opioid during National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.
Pills are packed high in a collection box at the Winter Park Police Department. It is almost overflowing after people dropped off their unwanted prescription drugs over the past week.
"People come in anytime during the open hours while they're here and they can drop off their medication," Winter Park police Lt. John Bologna said.
People are stopping by police headquarters Saturday as part of the National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.
The Drug Enforcement Administration launched the event as a way for people to get rid of expired or unused drugs in their homes safely.
Authorities encourage people to turn in their unwanted drugs "instead of discarding them in the garbage where kids can get a hold of them or throwing them out of their car," Bologna said. "Hopefully nobody does that, but it can happen."
Winter Park police is just one of several agencies across Central Florida participating in the event.
WPPD tells news 6 it is always a huge success. During the last take-back day, the agency collected more than 600 pounds of drugs.
The effort is taking place just days after President Donald Trump announced the opioid crisis is a public health emergency. He says he wants the federal government to aggressively fight the epidemic.
The Drug Take Back Day is one step in the battle against opioids.
"There's no questions asked and hopefully that does help with the opioid problem that is going in the United States today. We can only hope," Bologna said.