RIVER HILLS POLICE DEPARTMENT

POLICY/PROCEDURE

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TITLE: MEDICATION COLLECTION PROGRAM POLICY NO: 03/09

EFFECTIVE DATE: 11/11/2009 RESCINDS:

RELATED REGULATIONS: AMENDS:

DISTRIBUTION: ALL PD EMPLOYEES NO. OF PAGES: 3

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I. PURPOSE:

To establish a procedure for the proper collection and destruction of prescription and non-prescription medicine collected by the River Hills Police Department.

II. POLICY:

The River Hills Police Department recognizes that the abuse of pharmaceuticals is a serious health and social problem. The River Hills Police Department also recognizes that improper disposal of prescription medications is a threat to our environment. Officers of the River Hills Police Department will accept prescription and non-prescription medications from River Hills residents, properly inventory them, secure them, and ultimately arrange for the proper disposal of the medications. The River Hills Police Department has received authorization from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (Attachment A) to act as a collection point for prescription medication.

III. DISCUSSION

The River Hills Police Department at times deals with situations resulting from drug abuse. The Department recognizes that the diversion of pharmaceuticals is a significant problem. The Medicine Collection Program is one component in our strategy to fight the war on illegal drugs. We are committed to reducing both the supply and demand side of the problem.

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IV. PROCEDURE FOR COLLECTION OF THE MEDICATION

A. Expired, unwanted prescription and non-prescription medications can be turned in to the River Hills Police Department by Village of River Hills residents at the River Hills Police Department during normal business hours, which is considered Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm, exclusive of holidays. Officers on duty during non-business hours may respond to the station to accept medications if available.

B. The medications must be accepted by a sworn police officer. During normal business hours, clerks will check to see if an officer is available. If an officer is not available, clerks can advise the resident to call or come back at another time.

C. The medication does not have to be in a labeled bottle. Identification will be verified by a volunteer pharmacist.

D. The person turning in the medication must present proper identification.

E. The officer will inventory the medications and place them in a sealed and labeled evidence bag as soon as practical after acceptance. Medications are not to be left unattended. Once the inventory is completed, the medications are to be placed in an evidence locker.

F. Officers should make a copy of a property form, using a magic marker to black out the number on the copy. (See Attachment B) Officers should not use the regular two part department form for pharmaceutical collection.

G. If the resident brings in items in a bag or other container, officers should inquire if there any needles or other sharps within. Officers can inspect the container to make sure garbage or unacceptable items are being handed over. Officers should wear examination gloves when checking the container.

H. Acceptable Items:

Prescription medication and over the counter drugs. The medication should be in

a labeled bottle. Names should be removed from the bottle, but the name of the

medication must be visible. Names can be crossed out with a marker. Items not in

a labeled container can still be accepted.

Over the counter; ointments, medical sprays, inhalers, creams, and pet medications.

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I. Unacceptable Items:

Illegal drugs, biohazards, needles/sharps, personal care items (shampoos, soaps,

lotions), household hazardous waste (paints, pesticides, oil, gas, etc), vitamins.

V. IDENTIFICATION AND SORTING

A. The property room custodian will presort the controlled substances from the non-controlled.

B. Obvious scheduled controlled substances will be removed from their containers and placed in a separate bin (provided by MMSD) for disposal by the property room custodian. All other medications can remain in the bottles and placed in another bin (provided by MMSD) separate from the controlled substances. If the medication cannot be identified, it should be left in the bottle and placed in the bin with non-controlled substances. This bin will be sorted by a volunteer pharmacist.

C. The property room custodian will make arrangements with a volunteer pharmacist to make the final sorting of controlled from non-controlled substances. This information can be obtained from the MMSD contact, Bill Graffin at 414-225-2077 (direct office) or 414-510-6832 (cell).

VI. DISPOSAL

The property room custodian will make arrangements to turn the non-controlled substances over to the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District at their annual Medicine Collection Day. The River Hills Police Department will work collaboratively with MMSD and other law enforcement agencies to assure that the controlled medications that are collected are conveyed to an appropriate facility, such as the federally licensed incinerator (Veolia ES Technical Solutions) in Sauget, Il to be destroyed.

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Thomas R. Rischmann

Chief, River Hills PD

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