April 1, 2011 – Media Campaign Launched

April 27, 2011 – Pre-Event Press Conference

April 30, 2011 – Prescription Take Back Day

Central Florida HIDTA in partnership with CrimeLine and the Orange County Drug Free Coalition launched a prescription take back prevention campaign through Clear Channel Communications. The campaign included billboards (static and digital) in the Central Florida area, radio ads and streaming web messages promoting the prescription take back day. A remote broadcast was also setup the day of the event with Clear Channel Communications station 104.1 at the West Orange County Sheriff’s Office substation to encourage listeners to come out and dispose of their unused and unwanted prescriptions.

On April 27th, Orange County Drug Free Coalition in partnership with DEA, Orange County Sheriff’s Office, Orlando Police Department, Orange County Government Communications and the Orange County Medical Examiner’s Office organized a pre-event press conference to promote the prescription take back day in the community. The agencies participating in the press event included: Orange County Sheriff’s Office, Orlando Police Dept., Winter Park Police Dept., Maitland Police Dept., Winter Garden Police Dept. Ocoee Police Dept., FDLE, MBI, Central Florida HIDTA, CrimeLine, Walgreens and Informed Families. The key speakers were Sheriff Jerry Demings, Orange County, Jeff Walsh, Special Agent In Charge, DEA and Dr. George Ralls, Orange County Medical Director. Each speaker discussed the growing problem of prescription drug abuse and misuse and the relevance of the take back day. The event was covered by local media outlets.

Orange County law enforcement agencies in partnership with DEA, Central Florida HIDTA, CrimeLine and the Orange County Drug Free Coalition setup 15 collection sites throughout Orange County and collected approximately 837 pounds of unused prescription drugs. The DEA Orlando Division (includes six counties) collected a total of 3,100 pounds of prescription drugs during the four-hour take back day. This was the same amount collected by the State of Ohio. Law enforcement agents worked in partnership with Drug Free Coalition volunteers and University of Central Florida students at the collection sites handing out Informed Families Lock Your Meds brochures, poison control information and federal guidelines on proper disposal of prescription drugs. In addition, Subway provided each location with discount coupons for community members turning in their unwanted medications.

Partners:

We would like to thank all the partners for their participation and making this event a success. These include Central Florida DEA, Orange County Sheriff’s Office, Central Florida HIDTA, Orlando Police Department, Winter Park Police Department, Maitland Police Department, Winter Garden Police Department, MBI, FDLE, Ocoee Police Department, Belle Isle Police Department, CrimeLine, Orange County Government, Walgreens, Informed Families, Orange County Health Department, Orange County Medical Examiner’s Office, Orange County Housing and Community Development, University of Central Florida Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention Programming Office, Family & Friends United, Freedom Pharmacy and Subway.

NATIONAL DEA PRESCRIPTION TAKE BACK DAY Orange County, FL