Saturday, April 26 is a National Drug Take-Back Day, sponsored by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Communities across the county join forces to encourage residents to responsibly dispose of their unused medication. To increase access to local disposal options, Anderson County residents will now have access to four permanent medicine disposal bins in the county. Increasing access to medicine disposal options helps make strides towards protecting the environment and preventing medicine misuse. As a result of a partnership between Allies for Substance Abuse Prevention (ASAP) of Anderson County and the Clinton Police Department, Lake City Police Department, Norris Police Department and Oliver Springs Police Department, unused, unwanted or expired medications can now be dropped off in the lobby of these departments during business hours.
On Saturday, April 26, 2014, residents are encouraged to drop off medication between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm at the following locations:
Clinton Police Department: 125 W. Broad Street, Clinton
Lake City Police Department: 104 Lawson Street, Lake City
Norris Police Department: 9 W Circle Road, Norris
Oliver Springs Police Department: 701 Main Street, Oliver Springs
Following the event on Saturday, the disposal bins will be available for medication drop-off during police department hours of operation.
In 2011 a permanent disposal bin was installed in the Clinton Police Department. Chief Rick Scarborough says, “the residents of Clinton have taken advantage of the medication drop off program. The amount of unused medication deposited in our secure containers has consistently been over 30 pounds each month. In response to the demand, ASAP is getting a larger container for our department. This program is a great success and it’s reducing potential crime. By removing unused medication from households, it eliminates their homes from being targets of thieves!” The new larger bin will be in addition to the three new bins installed at the other locations.
Studies show that over 48.5 percent of Americans have used at least one prescription drug in the past month and 20 to 60 percent of prescriptions go unused and are eventually disposed of. These efforts by ASAP and the local police departments hope to make protecting the environment and preventing misuse more convenient for local residents by having more options for disposal bins when and where they need them. Medicine disposed of in the secure bins will be collected and destroyed by incineration and any packaging will be recycled.
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)
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 putting that in with your household waste.
For more information, visit www.ASAPofAnderson.org or call (865) 457-3007.
