Harlan Kirgan
A prescription drug drop-box is in place by the dispatch office at the Eunice Police Department.
The box, which is intended for outdated or no longer needed prescription drugs, is available seven days a week and 24 hours a day.
The box is placed in the department, 300 S. 2nd St., Eunice, by STL PROUD Coalition — St. Landry Preventing Rx Drug Oversue and Underage Drinking.
The Rev. Dale Fontenot, coalition coordinator, said about two years ago a study found St. Landry Parish had the highest rates of underage underage drinking and prescription drug use among the seven parishes in Acadiana.
“These same drugs unfortunately have become the target of thefts and misuse, oftentimes by people who have access to the residence,” a Coalition news release stated.
“Data reports that in this country, 12- to 17-year-olds, have made prescription drugs the number one substance of abuse for their age group, and much of that supply is unknowingly coming from the medicine cabinets of their parents, grandparents and friends,” the statement said.
“Left in the home, these medications can pose serious threats to health and safety, including risks of theft, abuse and accidental poisoning. Thrown or flushed away, these drugs enter landfills and sewer systems, damaging the environment, threatening wildlife and contaminating water supplies,” it stated.
Drugs placed in the box are eventually sent to the the St. Landry Parish Coroner’s Office for disposal.
A box also is placed at the Opelousas Police Department.
Eunice Police Chief Randy Fontenot said there is a problem with prescription drugs.
“A lot of it is people that have prescriptions who are abusing it or getting multiple prescriptions from multiple doctors and get them filled at multiple pharmacies,” Fontenot said.
Most of the prescription drug problem in Eunice comes from Texas, he said.
“I guess is it is a little easier to doctor shop in Houston,” he said.
Eunice pharmacies have gotten together to combat the doctor-shopped prescriptions, he said.
“Our pharmacies are pretty good about it,” he said.
The police chief recalled pulling out a lock box containing narcotics from a tooth extraction he had about 10 years ago.
“How did I get rid of them? I flushed them down the toilet, which they don’t want us to do because it may contaminate the water supply and is not being very environmentally safe. So, this provides a place for people to dispose of drugs that they have hanging around the house that they don’t need,” he said.
STL Proud Coalition includes members of St. Landry Pairsh Children & Youth Services Planning Board, which includes 20 non-profit organizations, state agencies, municipal governments and businesses.
For more information about the dropbox, call Eunice Police at 337-457-6595 or Dale Fontenot of STL Proud Coalition at 337-308-7051.