First SCIT RX Drug Drop Off a success
1/15/2015 2:00:00 PM - Tribal Observer

By Natalie Shattuck, Editor

The Tribal community was encouraged to deposit their unused and expired prescription drugs during the “Community RX Drug Drop Off” outside Cardinal Pharmacy on Friday, Nov. 14.

Youth LEAD presented the event with collaborating efforts from Cardinal Pharmacy, the Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Police Department, Mount Pleasant Police Department, Tribal Public Relations, Behavioral Health, Nimkee Memorial Wellness Center and Ten 16 Recovery Network.

Tribal Police Sergeant Craig Wilson requested information from the Mount Pleasant Police Department as they have operated a drug drop off program for two years.

With the event occurring from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., more drugs were dropped off than Mount Pleasant Officer Jeff Browne had anticipated.

“Today I would be happy with 10 to 20 pounds being a first-time (Saginaw Chippewa Tribal) event,” Officer Browne said toward the start of the event. “We’ve done drug drop off events before with Commission on Aging which are wildly successful with anywhere from 40 to 50 pounds of pills in a day; they are a bit larger because of the population.”

The final weight for the Community RX Drug Drop Off for the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe was more than 26 pounds.

“If you factor in that the weight was accumulated in four hours, it really magnifies the success of this event,” said Youth Support Coach Kevin Ricketts.

For anyone that missed the event but has drugs to turn in, it is not too late.

“The Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribal Police Department has a drop box in their lobby 24 hours a day, seven days a week or the City of Mount Pleasant department – the same thing – no questions asked,” Browne said.

Deborah Peterson, youth outreach worker of Youth LEAD Diversion said miigwetch to everyone who participated in the event.

“We were able to collect a significant amount of prescription drugs, over the counter, vitamins and herbal supplements,” Peterson said.

            To conclude the event, drawings for prizes were held for those who dropped off drugs. The seven prizes included a candle, body lotions, a SCIT embroidered blanket, a $25 Cardinal Pharmacy gift card, four Soaring Eagle Waterpark passes, a $50 Nbakade Restaurant gift card and one overnight stay at SEWPH with four waterpark passes.

            “With 26 pounds of drugs out of the community that could possibly be harmful to someone, this shows promise and hope to a healthy community,” Ricketts said.

Ricketts said community members are already asking when the next Tribal RX Drug Drop off will occur and mentioned plans are in the works for a spring event, “just in time for spring cleaning.”

“I would like to thank everyone for working so hard to make this event happen for the Tribal community,” Sgt. Wilson said. “Everyone involved with this community event was also involved in helping to establish our permanent drop-off site at the Tribal Police Department.  It is a wonderful thing when law enforcement agencies can band together with Tribal departments and community to make such important causes a reality and help provide to the Tribal community.”