Alabama residents can safely dispose of unwanted prescription drugs Saturday
People in Alabama can safely dispose of unwanted prescription drugs Saturday.
In Montgomery, the Montgomery Police Department will oversee each of three sites in the city at the Jackson Hospital Wellness Center and Jones Drugs on Atlanta Highway and West Fairview Avenue. Millbrook police and Prattville police will oversee collection sites at Jones Drugs in each of those cities.
In Tuscaloosa, the drop-off site is Tuscaloosa Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Other area drop-off sites are the Woodstock Police Department and the Bibb County Sheriff's Office.
In Gadsden, the Etowah County Drug Enforcement Unit will oversee collections at the Etowah County Courthouse. Other area drop-off sites are Walmart and Walgreens, both overseen by the Jacksonville Police Department, and the Oxford Police Department.
For a list of other collection sites in Alabama, click here.
There will be nearly 50 locations across Alabama. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency has this type of event twice a year.
“Old, unwanted or expired prescription drugs too often become a gateway to addiction or accidental overdose. Take Back Day is a safe, convenient and responsible way to permanently remove these drugs so they can never be misused or abused,” said Amanda Williams, president of the Medical Association, in a statement. “By participating, Alabamians can play an important role in preventing drug abuse and safeguarding others from accidental poisoning or overdose.”
Sites will not accept syringes of illicit drugs. Liquid products must be sealed in the original container.
In 2023, the state saw 9,313 overdoses with an increase of about 13% compared to 2022, according to the Alabama Department of Public Health’s Emergency Medical Services database.
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Alex Gladden is the Montgomery Advertiser's public safety reporter. She can be reached at agladden@gannett.com or on Twitter @gladlyalex.
This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Prescription Drug Take Back Day lets Alabama residents dispose of drugs
