Pharmaceutical collection box at Rhinelander Police Department

The City of Rhinelander Police Department is pleased to announce the availability of a pharmaceutical collection box at the Police Department. The collection box is a free service provided by the Rhinelander Police Department to collect unused, unwanted and expired pills. Deposits are anonymous and may be made any time during normal business hours (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.). The drop box is located in the lobby area at the police department. The collection site is limited to pills and powders only. The site cannot accept liquids, creams or syringes at this time.

The Rhinelander Police Department recently applied for and received a grant through the National Association of Drug Diversion Investigators (NADDI) for the pill collection box. One hundred prescription drug boxes were made available nationally through NADDI, with funding provided by Endo Pharmaceuticals.

The prescription drug boxes were made available to significantly reduce the prescription drugs in American homes that are either no longer needed or outdated. These same drugs, unfortunately, have become the target of theft and misuse, often by people who have access to the residence. America's 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 coming from the medicine cabinets of their parents, grandparents, and friends. A nationwide database of drop box collection sites can be found at rxdrugdropbox.org.

The drop box is an additional resource provided by the Rhinelander Police Department at no cost to assist combating dangerous prescription abuse and misuse. Both prescription and non-prescription medications are accepted.

For additional information, please contact Detective Sergeant Joshua Pudlowski or Chief Michael Steffes at the Rhinelander Police Department, (715) 365-5300.