Elastec Inc., Cocoa Company Donates Drug Disposal Box to Cocoa Police Department
By Space Coast Daily // February 8, 2021
Cocoa PD collected more than 500 pounds of medications through one drop box in 2020
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – A Cocoa company specializing in marine and environmental clean up products donated a drug disposal drop box to the police department earlier this month.
Elastec Inc., delivered the box last week and it is currently available for public use to safely dispose of unwanted, unused, or expired prescription medications.
Company representatives believe it is an important tool in helping law enforcement to not only reduce the number of drugs in people’s homes, but offer a safe method of disposal that prevents the potential for creating environmental hazards when people improperly dispose of their unused medications.
“It’s critical to get these types of drugs off the streets and into an environment where they can be disposed of in a safe and responsible manner,” said Jeff Bohleber, chief executive officer for Elastec, an Illinois based company with operations in Cocoa, Florida. “We are happy to support this effort.”
In 2020, The Cocoa Police Department collected more than 500 pounds of medications through one drop box already located in the police department lobby.
This amount includes collection efforts through the National Drug Take Back Day, a partnership with the DEA held twice a year in April and October.
The National Drug Take Back Day is an initiative began in 2010 as a way to facilitate the safe disposal of potentially dangerous medications left in household medicine cabinets.
The program addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the United States are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs.
The National Drug Take Back Day is typically held twice a year in April and October.
Due to the pandemic, October was the only mass collection day in 2020.
Elastec’s donation more than doubles the capacity for the lobby’s drug collection point. The new drop box can handle an additional 50 pounds.
The public can safely dispose of unwanted medications year-round during regular business hours on Monday through Friday. The service is free and anonymous with no questions asked.
Needles, syringes, liquids and inhalers are not to be disposed in this box.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration offers more detailed instructions on Where and How to Safely Dispose of Unused Medicines. “We appreciate the donation and the support from Elastec,” said Interim Chief John Hankins. “Community partnerships like this go a long way towards improving the overall quality of life for our residents and visitors and we believe this will have a meaningful impact.”
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