The Tamaqua Rotary Club donated $200 to the Tamaqua Police Department's Drug Take Back program to help offset costs of a permanent drop box and its installation. The secure, metal drop-off box was donated by CVS Pharmacy.

Rotary members became involved in the program after recent meetings featured guest speakers such as Schuylkill County District Attorney Christine Holman and representatives from STEP-Up Tamaqua and Safer Streets for Tamaqua's Little Feet. All of the speakers had the same message - the opioid drug abuse issue needs to be addressed at every level of the community.Evan Evans, Rotary president, said "We wanted to do something to help, something visible. Down the road, the Rotary plans to do more to help the community solve the drug problem."Mary Linkevich, who is Tamaqua's director of community development, sees the drug take back program as a huge benefit."Many drug abuse problems actually start in the home with prescription drugs. Addicts abuse the medications found in the home medicine cabinet. Bringing old, unused drugs to a drug take-back location also helps the environment by eliminating those drugs from water sources and landfills," Linkevich said.Tamaqua Mayor Chris Morrison says the drug drop box "is a safe and anonymous way to get rid of drugs." It will be closely monitored to avoid misuse and will be available to the public Monday through Friday, between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.