Prevention - Education - Intervention - Recovery
MISSION
To educate and inform the community about the dangers and consequences of prescription drug abuse, unused medication disposal, and Brazoria County’s prescription drug use epidemic.
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ABOUT RX DRUG ABUSE TASK FORCE
The Rx Drug Abuse Task Force was created in 2013 by the Brazoria County Community Coalition (BCCC) as a response to the growing need of unwanted, unused, and expired medications needing proper disposal. The initial request came from home hospice care and the concern that dangerous medications were being left behind or flushed down the toilet. Members of the coalition formed the Task Force and immediately began formulating objectives to combat the growing trends.
OBJECTIVES
Task Force Objectives:
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Create social norm and social marketing campaigns to create public awareness about issues and problems related to prescription drug abuse and the need for proper Rx disposal.
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Secure one partner to provide incineration to all Brazoria County permanent prescription disposal locations.
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Create a prescription drug collection and disposal policy for all of Brazoria County.
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Work with the business, health provider, and hospital sectors to strengthen prevention and proper disposal efforts.
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Work toward instructional programs that increase knowledge, develop skills, and change behaviors (using social and thinking skills for youth and adults).
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Create social marketing that aids in supporting community initiatives (such as the National Rx Take Back Event).
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Work with various media outlets to encourage coverage of community coalition initiatives and to prescription drug abuse and proper disposal issues.
GET INVOLVED
Join us to make Brazoria County a healthier place to live!
Contact:
Stephanie Carrizal, Director
Within the first year of inception, with support from retired Chief of Police David Ashburn, the first Rx drop box was installed at Angleton Police Department. Part of the requirement for proper Rx disposal meant a plan for incineration. A community partnership with Dow Chemical was created to assist with this task. Without this support, this extremely important endeavor would not be possible. Since the initial installation, eight Rx drop boxes were installed and are currently operational thought the county.
Since 2014, education on the dangers of opioids misuse, signs and symptoms of addiction, and prevention strategies were provided to middle and high school students and their parents. Collaboration with community partners allowed for outreach and education within Brazoria County and beyond! The use of naloxone to support the prevention of drug overdoses has been an essential objective. After receiving information from the task force, all contacted local law enforcement agencies that were not carrying naloxone in patrol cars committed to doing so. Police officers, parole officers, and social workers serve as first responders and can assist with saving a life due to opioid overdose prior to the arrival of EMS. We applaud the care and concern from all of our partners who agreed to carrying naloxone.
The Rx Abuse Task Force serves the following communities: Alvin, Angleton, Brazoria, Clute, Freeport, Lake Jackson, Liverpool, Manvel, Oyster Creek, Pearland, Richwood, Surfside, Sweeny, and West Columbia.
ADDITIONAL DROP BOXES
SPONSORED BY BACODA:
GALVESTON COUNTY
Galveston Police Department
601 54th Street
Galveston, TX 77550
Santa Fe Police Department
4925 Main Street
Santa Fe, TX 77539
Dickinson Police Department
4000 Liggio Street
Dickinson, TX 77539
La Marque Police Department
431 Bayou Road
La Marque, TX 77568
Texas City Police Department
1004 9th Ave N
Texas City, TX 77590
WHARTON COUNTY
SOUTHEAST HARRIS COUNTY
Wharton Police Department
1407 North Richmond Road
Wharton, TX 77488
Deer Park Police Department
2911 Center Street
Deer Park, TX 77536
5 Oak Drive
Lake Jackson, TX 77566
BRAZORIA COUNTY
RX DROP BOX LOCATIONS
Rx Drop Boxes
Unused or expired prescription medications are a public safety issue, leading to potential accidental poisoning, misuse, and overdose. Proper disposal of unused drugs saves lives and protects the environment. According to the 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 9.9 million Americans misused controlled prescription drugs. The study shows that a majority of abused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet.
BACODA supports Rx drop boxes throughout our catchment areas. These boxes provide our communities an opportunity to prevent drug addiction and overdose death by properly disposing of their unwanted, expired, and unused medications. This service is FREE and available to the general population. It is not to be used by local businesses, veterinarians, care facilities, pharmacies, or anyone deemed a returned distributor.
BRAZORIA COUNTY RX TASK FORCE PARTNERS
Alvin PD
Angleton ISD PD
Angleton PD
Clute PD
Constable Buck Stevens Pct3
Dow Chemical
Freeport PD
Iowa Colony PD
Keep Pearland Beautiful
Lake Jackson EMS
Medic Pharmacy-Alvin
Medicine Shoppe-Angleton
Richwood PD
Stella Roberts Recycling Center Pearland
Sweeny PD
FOLLOW
Brazoria County Community Coalition
on Facebook and Instagram.
GET INVOLVED
with RX Abuse Prevention Task Force
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Dannielle Meyer, Director