Drop off your unused, expired medications at Oak Ridge Police Department April 27
The Oak Ridge Police Department and ASAP of Anderson are participating in the National DEA Drug Take Back Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 27. Anyone in the community can drop off their expired or unused medication to a police officer at 200 S Tulane Ave., Oak Ridge.
Officers and ASAP will be on the police department side of the Municipal Building with a barrel to collect medication. This will give people with a large amount of medication an easy way to drop it off. ASAP will also have medication lockboxes to give out and other substance misuse prevention resources.
Items that are accepted during the take-back day include unneeded and expired prescription medications, antibiotics, steroids, cold medicine, vitamins/herbal supplements, pet medications, eye drops, and ointments, according to an ASAP news release.
Needles, IV bags, blood sugar equipment, and illegal drugs are not accepted. For those outside of Anderson County, check the DEA site locator at https://www.dea.gov/takebackday#collection-locator to find the closest take-back event if you are not in the Oak Ridge area.
A permanent medication drop-off box is located in front of the doors at the Municipal Building at the building's entrance. Medications can be dropped off there at any time.
Anderson County also has permanent disposal bins in the police departments of Clinton, Norris, Oak Ridge, Oliver Springs, and Rocky Top, as well as at the Walgreens and CVS in Oak Ridge, and the CVS in Clinton. Community members can drop off their unused or expired medications at these disposal bins at any time.
Medication lock boxes
In addition to discarding medication, individuals can participate in the Count It! Lock It! Drop It! movement, which is an initiative to prevent prescription drug misuse. The campaign encourages people to count their medication once every two weeks, lock them in a safe place, and drop unused or expired medication in disposal bins. A drop box and take back event finder is listed on the website at www.countitlockitdropit.org. ASAP of Anderson also offers free medication lock boxes to those who live, work, or worship in Anderson County, which can be requested at https://www.asapofanderson.org/quick-links/medication-lock-boxes/. Organizations can also request larger lock boxes to give to those who need them in the community.
According to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, ASAP stated in the release, the most common method of obtaining pills is through family and friends. Prescription drugs can be easily stolen at home when they are left in unlocked cabinets and drawers. The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that 14.3 million Americans over the age of 12 misused prescription drugs in 2021. By disposing of drugs, people help to prevent drug misuse, addiction, and potential overdoses.
This article originally appeared on Oakridger: Drop off unused, expired medicines at Oak Ridge Police Dept. April 27
