Drug Take Back Day is Saturday

Posted at 10:12 am April 24, 2019
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

ASAP of Anderson and police departments in Anderson County have formed a partnership to take back expired or unused medicines on Saturday.

It’s part of the 2019 Drug Enforcement Administration Rx Drug Take Back Day.

“Community members can bring their expired or unused medicines to one of the Anderson County Take Back locations anytime between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. this Saturday,” a press release said.

The collection sites will be located at the police departments listed below. Each department will be set up outside in their respective parking lots to receive the expired or unused medicines, the press release said.

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

The National Rx Drug Take Back Day addresses a crucial public safety and public health issue, the press release said. According to the 2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 6.4 million Americans misused controlled prescription drugs, and that number has continued to climb in recent years.

“Studies show many of the misused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet,” the press release said. “The Take Back Day provides an opportunity for Americans to prevent drug addiction and overdose deaths in our community and communities across the U.S.”

Items that are accepted for disposal include prescription medications (unwanted, expired, unused); antibiotics/steroids; cold and flu medications; vitamins/herbal supplements; pet medications; medication samples; and medication ointments/lotions.

Anderson County also has six permanent disposal bins located throughout the county, with one in each police department in Clinton, Norris, Oak Ridge, Oliver Springs, and Rocky Top, as well as at Walgreens Oak Ridge next to the pharmacy counter. These bins are available to community members anytime for disposal, the press release said.

For more information, contact ASAP of Anderson at (865) 457-3007 or visit www.ASAPofAnderson.org. For questions about individual locations, contact the police departments directly.

More information will be added as it becomes available.

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