Annual fall Drug Take-Back set for Saturday at eight locations around Chattanooga

photo Deron Allen

The annual fall Drug Take-Back event is set for Saturday, a partnership among local law enforcement, Tennessee American Water Co. and Walgreens Pharmacy.

Between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., area residents are invited to drop off unused, unwanted or expired medications at any of eight locations around Chattanooga. The medicines will be taken from the collection points and be properly disposed of, according to a Tennessee American news release.

At a similar event in the spring, more than 1,000 pounds of medication were turned over, the release stated. The fall event includes two new locations, which organizers said will increase convenience for participating local residents.

"We are pleased to see how community participation in the Drug Take-Back events has grown in terms of pounds collected and citizens dropping off medications for proper disposal," Tennessee American President Deron Allen said in the release.

Having unused or expired medications in the home can lead to medication errors, accidental overdoses or inappropriate use. In a well-intentioned effort to avoid those problems, many people flush unwanted medications down the toilet as a means of disposal. However, flushing medications means that traces of these drugs eventually end up back in the environment.

"Even the seemingly smallest efforts of an individual can have a much larger impact on protecting both our environment and our community," Allen said.

The local Drug Take-Back program corresponds with a national initiative sponsored by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Other sponsors include the Chattanooga, East Ridge and Red Bank police departments, the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office, Blood Assurance, East Chattanooga Improvement Inc. and the Hamilton County Coalition.

Upcoming Events