Twice a week, Sgt. Jennifer Johnson empties out the medications collected in the drop box at the Hennepin County Sheriff's Water Patrol Headquarters in Spring Park.
“This is just two and a half days worth,” she said as she sorted through the bucket full of medicine bottles. She knows that every bottle in this bucket means one more bottle that won’t end up in the wrong hands.
“Kids these days are finding the medications,” said Sgt. Johnson. “They’re stealing from them, they’re experimenting with it, they’re taking them and we don’t want kids to do that.”
For Johnson, this is more than just a job. It’s a personal crusade to prevent another tragedy like she experienced. Her nephew, Luke, died three years ago after mixing alcohol with someone else’s prescription medication.
“This was a good kid,” she said. “He and his buddies experimented. Unfortunately, he went to sleep and never woke up. So this is very personal to me that you shouldn’t share the prescriptions you’re given from your doctor.”
That message seems to resonate with many in the community. In the first five months of the program, Hennepin County collected more than 2,000 pounds of medicine. And now with six drop box locations, officials hope to collect even more.
“We need to fill the need for the people,” said Sgt. Johnson. “That there is just that many, that much medication out there.”
And though it will never bring back her beloved nephew, Sgt. Johnson hopes it may spare another family the grief and sadness she knows all too well.
“If a parent can understand what is in their medicine cabinet and how that can affect their family, if one person hears that message, then I’m okay with that.”
Hennepin County will accept not only prescription medicine but also over the counter medicine and prescriptions for pets. All they ask is that the medicine is dropped off in its original container.
Here's a full list of the drop off locations:
Brooklyn Center – Hennepin County Library/District Court – Brookdale
6125 Shingle Creek Pkwy, Brooklyn Center, MN 55430
Hours: Monday through Thursday 10 a.m. – 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sunday noon – 5 p.m.
Brooklyn Park - Hennepin County Sheriff’s Patrol Headquarters
9401 83rd Avenue North, Brooklyn Park 55445
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Edina – Hennepin County Library – Southdale
7009 York Avenue South, Edina, MN 55435
Hours: Monday through Thursday 10 a.m. – 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sunday noon – 5 p.m.
Minneapolis - Hennepin County Public Safety Facility
401 4th Avenue South, Minneapolis 55415
Hours: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Minnetonka – Hennepin County District Court Ridgedale
12601 Ridgedale Drive, Minnetonka , MN 55305
Hours: Monday – Thursday 10 a.m. – 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sunday noon – 5 p.m.
Spring Park - Hennepin County Sheriff’s Water Patrol
4141 Shoreline Drive, Spring Park 55384
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Cassie Bonstrom, reporting
news@twelve.tv
Monday, October 29, 2012