This program was identified by partners as an action, that when combined with other actions in our community, that has a reasonable chance of making a difference in substance misuse in our community. This is an ongoing program in our community.

The priority population/customers for this program is the community, and the program aims to make a difference at the individual level. Implementation will take place in the community.

This program is a strategy to change the physical environment relative to access to substances in the home. The goal of the campaign is to encourage community members to secure and monitor substances that may be in their home to prevent substance misuse. For more information on this program, please visit this link. 

The partners who can play a role in this program include members of the Polk County Substance Abuse Coalition and:

• Polk County Schools

• Faith community

• County leaders

• Providers (RHA, Family Preservation, Blue Ridge Community Health)

• Polk HHSA

• Employers

• St. Luke's Hospital

• Seniors

• Media

• Polk County families

In 2022, our efforts to expand the Lock Your Meds campaign in our community made significant progress.

Our initial efforts focused on increasing awareness of the campaign among the older population in our community. To that end, we released educational information via Polk County Meals on Wheels' Program. We also established partnerships with local organizations to promote the safe storage and disposal of prescription medications.

As a result of these efforts, we have seen an increase in the number of community members who are aware of the importance of locking up their prescription medications and requesting medication lock boxes.

In 2023, significant progress was made in expanding the availability of lockboxes in our community, particularly through initiatives spearheaded by RHA and Polk HHSA. We continued to raise awareness about the importance of lockboxes and distributed them at various Polk HHSA events. Our dedicated efforts extended to serving the geriatric population, with a particular focus on ensuring that seniors had access to these essential safety tools.

A noteworthy development was the concerted effort made by Polk HHSA's new social worker for their senior services division to prioritize the distribution of lockboxes among seniors. This proactive approach not only increased the accessibility of lockboxes but also emphasized the importance of safeguarding personal belongings and medications, especially among vulnerable populations.

By integrating lockbox distribution into Polk HHSA events and targeting the geriatric population with focused initiatives, we took meaningful steps towards enhancing community safety and promoting responsible medication storage practices. These efforts underscore our commitment to proactively address safety concerns and empower individuals of all ages to protect their homes and well-being.