The Cape Girardeau Police Department's drug collection and disposal program is a means to provide a safe location for citizens to properly dispose of unused prescription/non-prescription medications. This program provides an environmentally safe alternative to disposing of both prescriptions and non-prescription medications in landfills and sewer systems that may negatively affect the environment. This program encourages citizens to remove their unwanted/un-needed, and/or expired medications from their homes. This program will also reduce access to addictive medications for accidental or intentional misuse by children within the household.
The Cape Girardeau Police Department has provided a secured, steel collection box in the lobby of the police department, where citizens will be able to deposit their medications anonymously. The collection box can be accessed in our lobby, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Once collected, the drugs will be properly disposed of by the DEA.
Bring medications in original containers with the label removed, or with personal information "blacked out" on the prescription bottle.
Acceptable items include:
- Expired or unwanted prescription medications
- Expired or unwanted over the counter medications
- Vitamins and nutritional supplements
- Medications for household pets
- Patches and ointments
Unacceptable items include:
- Liquids
- Aerosol cans
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Empty medicine bottles
- Medical waste (IV bags, bloody/infected waste)
- Needles or other "sharps"
- Hazardous waste
- Thermometers
Being an anonymous program, no investigations will be conducted relative to any prescription being dropped off. If you have questions regarding drug abuse, drug or other suspicious activity, contact the Cape Girardeau Police Department at (573) 335-6621.