Tennessee communities ready for prescription drug take backs
April 21, 2021
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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Tennessee community groups will be teaming up with local law enforcement this Saturday to host prescription drug take-back events where anyone can safely dispose of unneeded prescription medication. The events aim to help prevent substance misuse and also protect Tennessee’s drinking water supply.
Properly disposing of unneeded medication is important from a public health standpoint because about two-thirds of people who misuse prescription medications obtain them from family or friends. That s according to a news release from the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. Improperly disposed of medications can also make their way into Tennessee waterways and the drinking water supply.
The 20th National Prescription Drug Take Back day will be Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office, community partners and the Drug Enforcement Administration will provide the public with an opportunity to prevent medication abuse and theft by clearing out their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs. The event is to raise awareness and help community members dispose of unused or expired prescriptions at locations all across the county, free, anonymously and with no questions asked.
“Very often, unused prescription drugs find their way into the wrong hands that can result in tragedy. National Take Back Day provides hundreds of people the opportunity to clean out their medicine cabinets and dispose of prescriptions in a safe and anonymous manner” said Kelley Potter, HOPE Chautauqua DFC project director/coalition coordinator.
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More than 40,285 pounds were collected in Massachusetts (compared with 32,000 pounds in New York state) last year. (Shutterstock)
WESTFORD, MA If you have half-empty bottles of unused prescription drugs littering your bathroom shelves or medicine cabinet, mark your calendars for Saturday.
This year s first National Prescription Drug Take Back Day will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 24, giving residents of Westford an opportunity to dispose of the medications safely before they end up in the wrong hands.
The federal Drug Enforcement Administration will host the 20th event in cooperation with law enforcement agencies. The service is free and anonymous. All pills will be accepted, but liquids, needles and sharps can t be taken during this event.
SC promotes prescription medication Take Back Day At the last Take Back Day held in October, DHEC says the DEA collected a record-high amount of expired, unwanted, and unused prescription medications, with the public turning in close to 500 tons of unwanted drugs across the nation. (Source: WVIR) By Riley Bean | April 21, 2021 at 4:43 AM EDT - Updated April 21 at 4:43 AM
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WCSC) - The Department of Health and Environmental Control is encouraging people to drop off unused, expired or unwanted drugs.
The Prescription Drug Take Back Day is a nationwide event hosted biannually by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Ideally, it provides a responsible way for the public to dispose of prescription drugs that might otherwise be stolen, abused or fall into the wrong hands.
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More than 40,285 pounds were collected in Massachusetts (compared with 32,000 pounds in New York state) last year. (Shutterstock)
WALTHAM, MA If you have half-empty bottles of unused prescription drugs littering your bathroom shelves or medicine cabinet, mark your calendars for Saturday.
This year s first National Prescription Drug Take Back Day will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 24, giving residents of Waltham an opportunity to dispose of the medications safely before they end up in the wrong hands.
The federal Drug Enforcement Administration will host the 20th event in cooperation with law enforcement agencies. The service is free and anonymous. All pills will be accepted, but liquids, needles and sharps can t be taken during this event.