Get rid of expired, unused medicines on Saturday

You can get rid of unused, unwanted, or expired prescription or non-prescription medicines on Saturday. It’s National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day.

You can drop off the medications at locations in Clinton, Norris, Oak Ridge, Oliver Springs, and Rocky Top.

The National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day aims to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of medications, a press release said.

Oak Ridge and Anderson County participate by encouraging residents across the city and county to properly dispose of their unused, unwanted, or expired prescription or non-prescription medicines, the press release said. Allies for Substance Abuse Prevention (ASAP) of Anderson County has partnered with the Oak Ridge Police Department and other law enforcement agencies throughout the county to give two convenient options to residents for proper medicine disposal.

Option 1: From 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Saturday, October 22, medicines may be dropped off with officers in the parking lot of the Oak Ridge Police Department at 200 South Tulane Avenue.

Option 2: Take medicine to one of the five permanent disposal bins at the following locations, which are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

• Clinton Police Department, 125 West Broad Street, Clinton
• Norris Police Department, 9 West Circle Road, Norris
• Oak Ridge Police Department, 200 South Tulane Avenue, Oak Ridge
• Oliver Springs Police Department, 701 Main Street, Oliver Springs
• Rocky Top Police Department, 104 Lawson Street, Rocky Top

For more information, call ORPD Officer Brandan Sharp at (865) 556-6696 or ASAP at (865) 457-3007.

Here is what is accepted for disposal:

• Prescription medications (unwanted, expired, unused)
• Antibiotics/steroids
• Cold and flu medications
• Vitamins/herbal supplements
• Pet medications
• Medication Samples
• Medicated ointments/lotions
• Unused sharps (epinephrine, unused pricking devices)

Here is what is not accepted for disposal:

• Business waste
• Used needles and other sharps

Used needles and other sharps should be disposed by placing the sharps/needles in a sealed plastic container and placing it with your household waste, the press release said.