On April 27, 2013 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the Robertson County Sheriff’s Office in partnership with other Local Law Enforcement Agencies and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will give the public another opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs. Bring your medications for disposal to Stewart Williams Furniture Center located at 801 Memorial Blvd., Springfield, TN. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.
Last September, Americans turned in 488,395 pounds (244 tons) of prescription drugs at over 5,263 sites operated by the DEA, State and Local Law Enforcement partners. In its five previous Drug Take Back events, DEA and its partners took in over 2 million pounds (1,018 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. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now advised that 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.
If you would like more information, contact the Robertson County Sheriff’s Office at (615) 384-7971.