Clarksville, TN – On Saturday, October 26th, 2019 from 10:00am to 2:00pm, at Walmart Supercenter, 1680 Fort Campbell Boulevard, Clarksville, TN, the Clarksville Police Department and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration will offer the public its 18th opportunity in nine years to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs.
Bring your pills or patches for disposal to Walmart, 1680, Fort Campbell Boulevard (sites cannot accept liquids or needles or sharps.); the service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.
Last Spring, Americans turned in nearly 469 tons (more than 937,000 pounds) of prescription drugs at more than 6,300 sites operated by the DEA and almost 5,000 of its state and local law enforcement partners. Overall, in its 17 previous Take Back events, DEA and its partners have taken in almost 11.8 million pounds—nearly 5,900 tons—of pills.
This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health shows year after year that the majority of misused and abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including someone else’s medication being stolen from the home medicine cabinet.
In addition, Americans are now advised, their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines—flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash—both pose potential safety and health hazards.
For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs or about the October 26th Take Back Day event, go to www.DEATakeBack.com
The Clarksville Police Department will also provide information on our Count It! Lock It! Drop It! Program, which provides drop locations for unwanted prescriptions drugs, Monday through Friday, 8:00am-4:00pm, all year long. The drop boxes are located at 135 Commerce Street, 1584 Vista Lane, and 211 Cunningham Lane.
