Published Feb. 20, 2020
The University of Louisiana Monroe College of Pharmacy spearheaded a project to help
prevent prescription medication abuse by installing a drop box on campus for people
to get rid of unwanted, leftover medicines.
Photo: The University of Louisiana Monroe College of Pharmacy partnered with the ULM Police
Department and Northeast Delta Human Services Authority to place a prescription drug
drop box at the campus police station. Participating in the unveiling of the box were,
from left, ULM President Nick J. Bruno, Ph.D., UPD Director Tom Torregrossa, UPD Lt.
Jeremy Kent, Stephen Hill, Ph.D., College of Pharmacy, and HSA Executive Director
Monteic Sizer, Ph.D.
Emerald McIntyre/ULM Photo Services
The American Pharmacists Association-Academy of Student Pharmacists at ULM, led by
Stephen Hill, Pharm.D., Clinical Assistant Professor of Pharmacy, and GenerationRx
co-chairs students Kaitlin Comeaux and Raven Alexander, partnered with the ULM Police
Department and Northeast Delta Human Services Authority to obtain and set up the drop
box.
The drop box, valued at $1,500, was purchased by HSA and is at UPD in Filhiol Hall
for 24/7 security. Anyone can put unwanted medications in the drop box with no questions
asked. The contents are collected and destroyed by the DEA.
“The drop box provides the campus and members of the community with an option to get
rid of unused prescription medications in a safe way, both environmentally and personally,”
said Lt. Jeremy Kent of UPD.
Among those attending the unveiling of the drop box were ULM President Nick J. Bruno,
Ph.D., HSA Director Monteic Sizer, Ph.D., UPD Director Tom Torregrossa and HSA Regional
Prevention Coordinator Latonya Owens.
In September 2019, Gov. John Bel Edwards and the Louisiana Department of Health issued
Louisiana’s Opioid Response Plan, which includes providing more prescription drop boxes for the public, including
on college campuses. The report states in 2018, there were more than 450 opioid-involved
deaths in Louisiana.
