Tuesday, March 28, 2023

Southlake Police Collect Over One Hundred Fifty Pounds of Unused Prescription Drugs

The Southlake Police Department held its annual Drug Take Back day on Saturday, April 30th and it was a big success. One-hundred-and-fifty-nine (159) pounds of unused prescription drugs were collected.

It was great to see so many Southlake residents making their homes safer by disposing of unused medicines and prescription drugs. If you were unable to participate in Saturday’s event don’t worry, The Southlake Police Department provides a secure safe for the disposal of unused medications Monday – Friday during normal business hours at our DPS headquarters at 600 State Street.

Citizens will find instructions to use the secure safe located in the lobby at DPS headquarters on the second floor.

FAQs

  • The drug take back program is anonymous and no requests for identification or personal information will be made.
  • Participants may dispose of medication in its original container or dispose of it directly into the disposal box.
  • All participants must retain possession of their own medication during the surrender process.
  • No illicit drugs or substances such as marijuana or methamphetamine will be accepted.
  • Intravenous solutions and syringes will not be accepted during this initiative due to potential blood-borne hazards.
  • Collection boxes will be provided and each box will be labeled by law enforcement for proper disposal.

The Southlake Police Department began it’s own drug take back program on June 3, 2013. The safe is filled and emptied on a regular basis and the drugs are then properly disposed of.

S.P.A.R.K. ~ Anti-drug Message ~ Starting a Conversation With Your Tweens and Teens

Talking to your tweens and teens about drugs can be awkward and difficult for many parents. How do you start a conversation with them? What do you say? Where can parents find experts with the right information to share with teens?

SPARK is just the answer you are looking for. “Students and Parents Against Risks to Our Kids”, or SPARK, is a group led by Southlake Mayor Laura Hill. The program is sponsored by the City of Southlake and its Police Department and the Carroll Independent School District.

SPARK was created to bring awareness about tween and teen drug use. The program gives parents valuable information and provides them with the right tools and messaging to start a conversation with their children.

The next SPARK meeting will be held from 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Tuesday, November 17, 2015 at the DPS North Training facility at 100 East Dove Road. Guest speakers will include Riley Shaw from the District Attorney’s office, Calvin Bond, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), a narcotics detective with the Southlake Police Department, and School Resource Officers (SROs) from Carroll ISD’s middle and high schools.

The evening will be very informative and attendees will have an opportunity to ask questions. Please see the flyer for more information. We hope to see you there.

Spark Anti-Drug

Southlake Residents Make Rx Drug Take Back Program a Success!

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 1 in 9 teens have abused prescription drugs. Often these medications are found in the home. That’s why the Southlake Police Department participates in the bi-annual Drug Enforcement Agency’s (DEA) National Drug Take Back Day.

Dozens of Prescription Pill Bottles

Dozens of Prescription Pill Bottles

This year the DEA’s Drug Take Back program was held on Saturday, September 26th. Many Southlake citizens took advantage of the DEA’s program by bringing in their old or unused prescriptions to our DPS Headquarters.

The DEA’s program works so well that in June of 2013 the Southlake Police Department created it’s own Drug Take Back program and made it available at DPS Headquarters, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Participants are able to come to the second floor lobby at 600 State Street and drop off their unused or old prescription medication. It’s simple and secure. Medications are dropped into a sealed bag and then tossed into a secure safe that closes automatically. Our drug enforcement officer is responsible for removing the contents and securing them into our property room until destruction.

Following Saturdays’ DEA Drug Take Back initiative Southlake residents surrendered 177 pounds of prescription drugs. Since 2013 residents have surrendered 475 pounds of prescription drugs.

Not only are residents making their homes safer by getting rid of unused and old prescriptions, but also these medications are being disposed of properly so they don’t end up in lakes and streams causing toxicity to fish and wildlife or end up back into our water systems.

If you missed the National Drug Enforcement Drug Take Back day – do not worry. You can drop off your unused or old prescriptions M-F from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on the second floor of DPS Headquarters located at 600 State Street.

Instructions on how to use SLPD’s Drug Take Back Program

You will find the secure safe located in the lobby of DPS Headquarters. Here’s what you need to know:

  • The drug take back program is anonymous and no requests for identification or personal information will be made.
  • Participants may dispose of prescription medication in its original container or dispose of it directly into the secure disposal box.
  • Liquid prescriptions, such as cough syrup, should remain in its original bottle. Please make sure the lid is tightly sealed to avoid spillage.
  • All participants must retain possession of their own medication during the surrender process.
  • Intravenous solutions and syringes will not be accepted during this initiative due to potential blood-borne hazards.
  • No hazardous materials are allowed.
  • No inhalers or anything else using compressed gas are allowed.

If you have further questions about the program please feel free to contact us at (817) 748-8923.

 

National Drug Take Back Day ~ Saturday, April 26, 2014

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 1 in 9 teens have abused prescription drugs. Often these medications are found in the home. Parents and adults can do their part to rid their homes of dangerous prescription drugs by cleaning out your medicine cabinets and disposing of them during the Drug Enforcement Agency’s National Take Back Day.

The Southlake Police Department is again participating in the DEA’s National Take Back Day on Saturday, April 26, 2014 from 10:00a.m. to 2:00p.m. Individuals can bring unused prescription drugs to our designated drop-off location at our DPS Headquarters located at 600 State Street. Participants will remain anonymous and no questions will be asked.

Participants may dispose of pill-form medication either in its original container or by removing the medication from its container and dropping it directly into the disposal box. Liquid prescriptions, such as cough syrup, should remain in its original bottle. Please make sure the lid is tightly sealed to avoid spillage. An officer will be on hand to keep the DEA container secured.

National Drug Take Back Day

Saturday,  April 26, 2014

(10:00AM – 2:00PM)

DPS Headquarters 600 State Street

• The drug take back program is anonymous and no requests for identification or personal information will be made.

• Participants may dispose of medication in its original container or dispose of it directly into the disposal box.

• All participants must retain possession of their own medication during the surrender process.

• No illicit drugs or substances such as marijuana or methamphetamine will be accepted.

• Intravenous solutions and syringes will not be accepted during this initiative due to potential blood-borne hazards.

• Collection boxes will be provided and each box will be labeled by law enforcement for proper disposal.

This is a great opportunity to safely dispose of unwanted or unused prescription drugs. National Take Back Day is open to everyone.

 **If you are unable to drop off your old and unused prescriptions on Saturday, Southlake provides a secure safe for the disposal of medications at this same address.  Instructions to use the secure safe are located in the lobby at DPS Headquarters.  

SPARK Tackles Topic of Drugs & Alcohol

SPARK will host a meeting entitled “Not My Child? Not My Problem: Drugs, Alcohol, & the Realities of Our Kid’s World,” on October 21st from 7:30p.m. to 9:00p.m. This parents only event will take place at the Southlake DPS Building located on Carroll Avenue. Assistant District Attorney, Riley Shaw and an agent from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) will be speaking at the event on this issue.

If you have questions, contact Laura K. Hill at place5@ci.southlake.tx.us.

The Southlake Police Department Launches new Drug Take Back Program

UPDATE: SLPD’s DRUG TAKE BACK PROGRAM COLLECTS 89 POUNDS OF Rx AND UNUSED MEDICATIONS SINCE ITS PROGRAM BEGAN.

The Southlake Police Department began its prescription drug take back program in May of 2013. The programs allows residents to deposit unused prescription medication into a safe that is in the lobby of DPS HQ in order to keep the medications out of the hands of young people and others who might abuse the medications. Since the program’s inception, SLPD has collected 89 lbs of prescription and non-prescription medication in order to keep our community safe and reduce the abuse of prescription drugs in our city.

The Southlake Police Department is taking proactive steps to help parents and residents rid their homes of dangerous prescription drugs. Individuals may now drop off prescription medications Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the lobby of our DPS Headquarters located at 600 State Street.

We’ve made the process simple and easy to use. Instructions for disposing of medications are posted above the secure disposal safe in the lobby near the front desk. Southlake’s Drug Take Back program is anonymous and no requests for identification or personal information will be made.

Instructions:

  • Participants may dispose of pill-form medication in its original container and liquid prescriptions, such as cough syrup, should remain in its original bottle.  Please make sure the lid is tightly sealed to avoid spillage.
  • No illicit drugs or substances such as marijuana or methamphetamines will be accepted.
  • Intravenous solutions and syringes will not be accepted during this initiative due to potential blood-borne hazards.
  • No inhalers, needles or sharp objects, such as Lancets, are allowed.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 1 in 9 teens have abused prescription drugs. Often these medications are found in the home. One of the Southlake Police Department’s goals is to help reduce teenaged drug abuse. “This new program provides a safe and secure prescription and medication disposal site that’s easily accessible for citizens and offers convenient times for them to drop off unused medications,” said Police Chief Steve Mylett.

Similar to the Drug Enforcement Administration’s once a year initiative known as “National Drug Take Back Day,” the Southlake program will allow residents to drop off dangerous and unused prescriptions 5 days a week.  Parents and adults can do their part by ridding their homes of dangerous prescription drugs by cleaning out their medicine cabinets and safely disposing of them at DPS Headquarters.

This new program provides a proactive partnership with Southlake citizens and the Police Department – working to make our community safer. The Prescription Medicine Secure Disposal Program is available to all Southlake residents.

National Drug Take Back Day ~ April 27th

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 1 in 9 teens have abused prescription drugs. Often these medications are found in the home. Parents and adults can do their part to rid their homes of dangerous prescription drugs by cleaning out your medicine cabinets and disposing of them during the Drug Enforcement Agency’s National Take Back Day.

The Southlake Police Department is again participating in the DEA’s National Take Back Day on Saturday, April 27, 2013 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.  Individuals can bring unused prescription drugs to our designated drop-off location at our DPS Headquarters located at 600 State Street. Participants will remain anonymous and no questions will be asked.

Participants may dispose of pill-form medication either in its original container or by removing the medication from its container and dropping it directly into the disposal box.  Liquid prescriptions, such as cough syrup, should remain in its original bottle.  Please make sure the lid is tightly sealed to avoid spillage. An officer will be on hand to keep the DEA container secured.

National Drug Take Back Day

Saturday, April 27, 2013

(10:00AM – 2:00PM)

DPS Headquarters 600 State Street

• The drug take back program is anonymous and no requests for identification or personal information will be made.

• Participants may dispose of medication in its original container or dispose of it directly into the disposal box.

• All participants must retain possession of their own medication during the surrender process.

• No illicit drugs or substances such as marijuana or methamphetamine will be accepted.

• Intravenous solutions and syringes will not be accepted during this initiative due to potential blood-borne hazards.

• Collection boxes will be provided by the DEA and at the conclusion of the event; each box will be labeled by law enforcement and retrieved by the DEA for proper disposal.

This is a great opportunity to safely dispose of unwanted or unused prescription drugs. National Take Back Day is open to everyone.

 

Got Drugs? Dispose of them on National Take Back Day

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 1 in 9 teens have abused prescription drugs. Often these medications are found in the home. Parents and adults can do their part to rid their homes of dangerous prescription drugs by cleaning out your medicine cabinets and disposing of them during the Drug Enforcement Agency’s National Take Back Day.

The Southlake Police Department is again participating in the DEA’s National Take Back Day on Saturday, April 27, 2013 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.  Individuals can bring unused prescription drugs to our designated drop-off location at our DPS Headquarters located at 600 State Street. Participants will remain anonymous and no questions will be asked.

Participants may dispose of pill-form medication either in its original container or by removing the medication from its container and dropping it directly into the disposal box.  Liquid prescriptions, such as cough syrup, should remain in its original bottle.  Please make sure the lid is tightly sealed to avoid spillage. An officer will be on hand to keep the DEA container secured.

National Drug Take Back Day

Saturday, April 27, 2013

(10:00AM – 2:00PM)

DPS Headquarters 600 State Street

This is a great opportunity to safely dispose of unwanted or unused prescription drugs. National Take Back Day is open to everyone.

For additional information, please contact 817-748-8921.

Drugs & Alcohol, How to Know if Your Kids Have a Problem – SPARK Town Hall Meeting 11/12

The Southlake Police Department will hold its third Town Hall meeting on Monday, November 12, 2012 as part of our continuing efforts to help educate parents about potential drug and alcohol problems among teenagers. Hundreds of parents and teachers attended the first two Town Hall meetings held in October and both events provided valuable information and resource material including: a look at some of the typical drugs of choice for teens; the average age for a first time user of drugs and alcohol; and presentations by a panel of experts including members of the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), educators and Southlake Police Chief Stephen Mylett.

Parents asked a lot of great questions and were given tips on what to look for if they suspect a child is experimenting with drugs or alcohol. They were also shown some of the typical abbreviations that teens might use when “talking in code” to their peers on computers and social media websites. The information was very enlightening to parents who came away from the Town Hall meetings better educated and equipped to spot the warning signs of drug and alcohol abuse and/or dangerous behavior early on. “Our Police Department and School Resource Officers are committed to working together with parents and educators in taking proactive measures to help curb drug and alcohol abuse among teens in Southlake,” said Police Chief Stephen Mylett. He added, “Drug and alcohol abuse is prevalent in every city and town across the country and it is our goal to take a leadership approach in protecting our teens and helping families who are struggling with this very serious issue.”

The next Town Hall meeting will give parents an opportunity to hear from the District Attorney’s Officer about the legal implications for you and your child if your child does get into trouble. The meeting will also allow parents the opportunity to meet and get to know members of our Police Department and our School Resource Officers. The SRO’s will talk about their role in the Carroll ISD school system and also provide insight into the kinds of problems they experience on a daily basis as School Resource Officers.  The SRO’s work with teachers and students and know first-hand some of the major issues and concerns facing students and teachers today.  This is third and final Town Hall meeting for the year and we hope everyone who has a vested interest is able to make it out.  The School Resource Officers are people that parents need to know.  They know your kids, your kid’s friends and they know a lot about teen culture right here in Southlake. They are your number one resource for every parent in Southlake.

S.P.A.R.K.

(Students and Parents Against Risks to our Kids)

WHEN:          Monday, November 12, 2012

TIME:        7:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

           WHERE:        Carroll High School (White Chapel Lecture Hall)