Four collection boxes now are available at St. Louis County police precinct stations for residents to dispose of unwanted prescription and over-the-counter medications, police announced today. Local residents can be more than proud of this initiative, because the Eureka Police Department piloted this concept, and have been quite successful. Additionally, the countywide concept is being led by Capt. Kenneth Williams, who heads the St. Louis County Police Department-Wildwood (6th) Precinct.

In September of 2009, Eureka Police Department officers became the first St. Louis County location to host a medication 'Take Back' event. After hosting several more Take Back events over the next year and half and continuing to see an increase in the medications collected, the Eureka police installed a permanent medication drop box last May. 

The medication drop box is located in the lobby of the Eureka Police Station and accessible 24/7. In the first year of it being available, 321 pounds of unwanted medications were collected.

Eureka Police Chief Mike Wiegand said he believes this drop box is a win-win for the community and law enforcement. "It helps keep these medications from falling in the wrong hands and gives people an easy, safe way to get rid of them."

The permanent medication drop box is available for anyone to use, and one does not have to be a Eureka resident. All forms of medication are accepted, except for needles and sharps. The Eureka Police Station is located at 120 City Hall Dr. 

Now the St. Louis County Police Department, in conjunction with a nonprofit group called P2D2, also will make drop off boxes available to residents around the clock at no charge. Residents can remain anonymous.

The effort is a partnership among the St. Louis County police, St. Louis College of Pharmacy, Missouri American Water and Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District.

The group hopes to discourage prescription medication from ending up in the wrong hands, as well as to protect the environment from improper disposal of medications, which often end up in rivers, said Williams, who also is president of Missouri P2D2.

The boxes will be available at the following St. Louis County Police locations:

• West County Precinct, 232 Vance Road in Valley Park
• South County Precinct, 3031 Telegraph Road
• Affton Southwest Precinct, 9928 Gravois Road
• North County Precinct, 11815 Benham Road