The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day is set for Saturday, Oct. 22, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. As part of this major health and safety initiative, the Coffee County Anti-Drug Coalition will host two take-back events across Coffee County.
Community members are encouraged to stop by one of these local take-back locations to drop off their unused or expired medications, especially pain relievers and other prescription drugs that are often abused.
Pharmacists and law enforcement officers will be on hand to accept the medications and safely dispose of them, no questions asked. Over-the-counter and veterinary medication will also be accepted at take-back locations.
· First Vision Bank – 2134 Hillsboro Blvd, Manchester
· Walgreen’s – 700 N Jackson Street, Tullahoma
“Fifty-five percent of those who abuse prescription pain medications say they got them from a family member or a friend,” said Christina Merino, Executive Director of the Coalition and co-developer of Count It! Lock It! Drop It! “Take-back days are a safe and easy way to get these drugs out of your home.”
“Count It! Lock It! Drop It! is focused on educating Tennesseans on the importance of counting their pills, locking up their medications and storing them in a secure place, and dropping medications at secure drop boxes or at take-back events,” said Christina Merino. “The more opportunities people have to clean out their medicine cabinets, the less likely it is that those pills will fall into the hands of a teenager or someone seeking a high.”
If you can’t make it to the take-back day, visit http://countitlockitdropit.org/drop-box-finder/ to find a drop box in your community. Contact CCADC for more information at 931.570.4484 or cmerino@ccantidrug.org.
