By LOIS KINDLE
lekindle@aol.com
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, Home Instead Senior Care and HCA Florida South Shore Hospital are once again teaming up to offer South Shore residents a safe way to dispose of expired, unwanted or unused medications through Operation Medicine Cabinet.
HCSO Deputy Emily Anderson is seen here chatting with SCC resident Lorna Ruggiero, who stopped by to make a drop-off at Operation Medicine Cabinet in December 2025.
Outdated vitamins, supplements, liquids, pet meds and sharps can also be turned in. There’s no need to remove labels or empty containers. Sharps (needles) need to be placed in some kind of hardened container, like a plastic bottle.
The Sheriff’s Office District 4 Command hosts the collection—now the only remaining drug take-back program in the county—and pays for everything collected to be incinerated by the City of Tampa. Home Instead furnishes boxes, tape and other supplies, and the hospital offers its breezeway for the venue.
Open to the entire South Shore community, this free drive-thru event will take place from 8 a.m. to noon on Friday, March 27, at 4016 State Road 674, Sun City Center.
Hospital leaders say the effort aligns with HCA Healthcare’s Crush the Crisis initiative.
“Caring for our community—especially our seniors and their families—is at the heart of everything we do,” said Dave Chudzik, South Shore Hospital director of communications and community engagement. “In partnership with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, we’re providing a simple, secure way to dispose of unused or expired medications. Properly removing them from our homes helps prevent accidental misuse, protects our loved ones and grandchildren, and keeps our community safe. We’re proud to stand alongside our neighbors in taking this important step toward a healthier, safer South Shore.”
Last December’s collection at Community Hall netted 900 pounds of prescription and over-the-counter drugs that might otherwise have been flushed or tossed in the trash, polluting the water supply, or, worse yet, kept and taken in error.
HCSO Master Deputy Jeff Merry anticipates the March 27th Operation Medicine Cabinet will yield another 32 boxes or 800 pounds.
The numbers reflect a community that consistently shows up—and
Drop off all expired, unwanted or unused medications, vitamins, supplements, liquids and pet meds at the next Operation Medicine Cabinet, Friday, March 27, at South Shore Hospital. Sharps (needles) need to be placed in some kind of hardened container.