Community Corner

Brookfield Drug Collection Nets More than 1,200 Pounds

Volunteers and residents collaborated for four hours on Saturday to get rid of old and unused medications to keep them out of the wrong hands. So how well did it go?

In just four short hours, 482 vehicles drove up to the Brookfield Recycling Center to drop off old medications last Saturday, topping last year's attendance.

Brookfield was one of the locations that took part in the countywide effort to collect and discard medications, sponsored by Waukesha County Drug Free Communities Coalition on Saturday, April 27, and the numbers were impressive.

The final tally came in at 1,224 pounds of medications collected in Brookfield, which included over the counter and prescription brands, reflecting a nearly 60 percent increase over last year's total of 767 pounds.

Find out what's happening in Brookfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Across the county, nearly 2,600 vehicles dropped off 6,115 pounds of medication, collectively, at the seven location sites in 4 hours during the drug collection held on Saturday, April 27.  Collection drop-off sites included Brookfield, Menomonee Falls, Mukwonago, Muskego, Oconomowoc, Pewaukee and Waukesha. 

The goal of the program is to dispose of unused medications in an effort to reduce prescription drug abuse and accidental poisonings in Waukesha County, help protect local waterways and create awareness of the dangers of prescription drug abuse.  Since the program began in 2009, as a result of 5 collections, nearly 12 tons of medication has been collected and properly disposed.

Find out what's happening in Brookfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The Brookfield drive is gaining in popularity, drawing 271 first time visitors this year, with many asking when the next drive will be. The Drug Free Communities Coalition plans to hold drug collections regularly.  The collection website will provide information on the next collection as the date approaches. 

The drugs were collected under the supervision of local police and the Waukesha County Metro Drug Enforcement Unit.  The drugs will be escorted by law enforcement to an incinerator where they will be properly destroyed.

The program is partially funded due to a partnership with the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), ProHealth Care and donations from community organizations, businesses and individuals.  If you would like more information on the effort and make a donation to the program, please contact Julianne Davan at jdavan@waukeshacounty.gov.


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