The City of Brewton Police Department collected approximately 55 pounds of prescription drugs at a prescription take back event Friday.

The event was held at Walgreens, in conjunction with a vaccine awareness day. Abuse a prescription medication has became a big problem in Escambia County. Friday’s event will go a long way toward taking some drugs off the streets. Overdoses have also become a problem in Escambia County from January to September of 2017. Eighteen people died of overdoses.

Walgreens also took the time to educate those who stopped by on vaccinations.

They have Shingrix that helps people who may have shingles. Also, Zostavax is effective

for promoting and pushing for new vaccinations that is out.

It was also a way to show customer appreciation and help promote the clinics. “We just want to get the word out in the community,” Chris Donney said. Michael Johns a local of Brewton is the Walgreens pharmacy manager and he also helped out with this event.

Donney said, “We just want to help our customers and provide them with the best and most effective medication.”

Johns said, the new ones are 90 percent effective, and the old ones were 50 percent effective. Insurance can cover for it and is very reasonable, he dsaid.

Mainstreet Urgent Care was also a big help with their advertising. Donney said, “They are a good partner for us.”

They provided customers with hotdogs, hamburgers, soda and water.