Nashville Prepares for National Drug Take Back Day
Hello Nashville! Mark your calendars because Saturday, October 26, is National Drug Take Back Day. This is a wonderful opportunity for residents across Middle Tennessee and Southern Kentucky to clear out their medicine cabinets and safely dispose of any expired or unneeded prescriptions.
A Brief Look Back
If you remember, the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (TDMHSAS) organized a similar event back in April where they made significant strides in tackling unused medications. Since the inception of Take Back Day, folks in Tennessee have disposed of enough medications to fill nearly five tractor-trailer trucks—one impressive accomplishment!
Why Participate?
Dr. Marshall Hall, who is an emergency room physician at TriStar Skyline, has some important points to share. He notes that “prescription medication is a potential way to develop opioid addictions or other addictions.” By having excess medications lying around, we might inadvertently enable those who are already struggling. The hope is that by properly disposing of these drugs, we can contribute to making our homes—and by extension, our communities—safer.
Where and When to Go
Many local agencies are stepping up to help with this event, and things will kick off from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. local time. There will be over 100 locations across the area where you can drop off those unwanted prescriptions, including:
- Kroger stores in Nashville
- The Clarksville Police Department, which will be operational at multiple locations
- TriStar locations in Middle Tennessee will host “Crush the Crisis” events from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- The Warren County Drug Task Force, which is working with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency and WKU police to operate sites
- And don’t forget about the Warren County Hazardous Waste Day event on Lauren Avery Drive, running from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
If you’re looking for a collection site near you, don’t worry! The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency has a handy collection site locator tool that can help you find an event that’s convenient for you.
Permanent Drop-Off Locations
For those who can’t make it to the event on Saturday, Tennessee has made it even easier throughout the year with 385 permanent prescription drop boxes all around the state. You can check out a map of these permanent locations anytime and get rid of those meds safely.
No Questions Asked
One of the best parts about National Drug Take Back Day is that it’s completely anonymous. You won’t have to answer any questions when you drop off your medications. This makes it a stress-free and legal way to dispose of prescriptions you no longer need, and it also contributes positively to your local community health.
Final Thoughts
So, as we gear up for this event, let’s all take a moment to look through our cabinets and see what we no longer need. It’s such a small action that can lead to bigger changes in keeping our loved ones and our community safe. Don’t forget to spread the word and invite your friends and family to join in the effort!
Thanks for being a proactive part of Nashville’s health community, and let’s make this year’s Take Back Day a huge success!
