DECATUR — The Decatur Police Department is urging residents to follow proper procedures when using the department’s medication disposal box, after officers discovered several full pill bottles left unsecured on top of the unit Monday morning.
The disposal box, installed nearly 20 years ago, is one of the department’s longest-running community safety programs. It allows residents to safely discard unwanted or expired prescription medications to help prevent accidental overdoses, misuse, and diversion.
Because of the program’s heavy use, the department upgraded the box several years ago to accept loose pills only — not bottles or containers. Clear instructions are posted on the top of the box and inside the lid, asking residents to pour pills into the chute and take their empty bottles home for recycling or disposal.
Police say that leaving full bottles on top of the unit is not only improper, but dangerous.
According to the department, unsecured medication left outside the chute becomes accessible to anyone walking by, including children. Officers warn that such situations could expose the person who left the bottles to potential civil or criminal liability if the medication were taken and caused harm.
A police employee spotted and removed the bottles before anyone could access them.
The department says this type of improper “disposal” has been happening more frequently. If it continues, they may be forced to remove the curbside drop box entirely.
“We just ask that people follow the posted instructions,” the department said. “Pour the pills into the chute and take your empty bottles with you. That’s all it takes to keep this program safe and available to everyone.”
The medication disposal box is located at the Decatur Police Department and is available for public use year-round.
