The Reno SPI Team operates a very active and multifaceted approach to reducing problems with prescription drug abuse. Their strategy has at least four major prongs - public education through schools and parents, enhanced enforcement through training and monitoring, outreach to the medical community (pharmacists and physicians), and strengthening and expansion of an existing collaborative network.
In October 2011 the Reno Police Department co-sponsored the area's fifth and sixth Prescription Drug Round Up events. The Prescription Drug Round Up offers community members a chance to turn in their old and unused prescription medications, with no questions asked, for proper disposal. These events are the result of a combined effort with many other community partners, including Join Together Northern Nevada, Sparks Police Department, Washoe County Sheriff's Office, Truckee Meadows Water Authority, Scolari's Food and Drug, Save Mart, Walgreens, Waste Management, and many others. To date, the six Round Ups have resulted in a total of 608,865 prescription pills collected and safely destroyed.
As part of their efforts, the Reno SPI team hosted its own drug round up initiative. The standard operating procedures that the team used to plan, execute, and evaluate the drop off is a valuable resource to any jurisdiction.
