NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Saturday, Oct. 26 marks National Drug Take Back Day and several agencies across Middle Tennessee and Southern Kentucky will be taking back expired or unneeded prescriptions.
In April, the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (TDMHSAS) hosted a similar event. Since starting Take Back Day, Tennesseans have reportedly disposed of enough medication to fill nearly five tractor-trailer trucks.
"We know that prescription medication is a potential way to develop opioid addictions or other addictions," TriStar Skyline Emergency Room doctor, Marshall Hall, told News 2. "Having spare medications around can lead to those addictions and can also enable those addictions for those that are already suffering from it."
Below, News 2 has compiled a non-exhaustive list of locations accepting unwanted or outdated prescriptions. If you don't see a collection site near you, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency has a collection site locator tool that can help you.
Statewide
Explore the map below, provided by the TDMHSAS, to find one of more than 100 Take Back Day Event locations. You will be able to visit these event locations between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. local time:
You can safely, securely and anonymously dispose of expired or unnecessary medications at any time of the year across 385 permanent prescription drop boxes across Tennessee. Follow this link to find a map of all permanent locations.
Middle Tennessee
Kroger is hosting a take back event as well, with participating Nashville locations including:
- 510 Highway 76 East, White House, TN
- 2011 Nashville Pike, Gallatin, TN
- 1010 Glenbrook Way, Hendersonville, TN
- 1203 Murfreesboro Road, Suite 100, Franklin, TN
- 237 E. Main Street, Hendersonville, TN
- 845 Nashville Pike, Gallatin, TN
- 1820 Roane State Highway, Harriman, TN
The Clarksville Police Department will operate in multiple locations between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., including at:
- The District 3 Precinct at 2937 International Boulevard
- The Special Operations Unit at 1584 Vista Lane
- The District 1 Precinct at 211 Cunningham Lane
There will be at least four locations in Wilson County that are participating in Drug Take Back Day from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., including:
- Gibbs Pharmacy at 1427 West Baddour Parkway
- Three Forks Marketplace at 9000 Sparta Pike
- Walgreens at 1303 West Main Street
- TriStar Mt. Juliet ER at 100 Summit Boulevard
In addition to the Mt. Juliet TriStar's ER location, other Middle Tennessee TriStar locations will be participating in what HCA Healthcare has called "Crush the Crisis" events from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m.:
- TriStar Centennial Medical Center at 2400 Patterson Street in Nashville
- TriStar Skyline Medical Center at 3441 Dickerson Pike in Nashville
- TriStar Hendersonville Medical Center at 355 New Shackle Island Road in Hendersonville
- TriStar Horizon Medical Center at 111 Highway 70 East in Dickson, which will collect medication starting at 9 a.m.
- TriStar NorthCrest Medical Center at 100 NorthCrest Drive in Springfield
- TriStar Spring Hill Emergency Room at 3001 Reserve Boulevard in Spring Hill
- TriStar StoneCrest Medical Center at 200 StoneCrest Boulevard in Smyrna
- TriStar Summit Medical Center at 5655 Frist Boulevard in Hermitage
Southern Kentucky
The Warren County Drug Task Force will participate with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency and the Western Kentucky University (WKU) police department. Those partners will operate sites between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at:
- The Bowling Green Police Department at 911 Kentucky Street
- Post 3 of Kentucky State Police at 3119 Nashville Road in Bowling Green
- Smiths Grove City Hall at 146 South Main Street
- The WKU police department at 1906 College Heights Boulevard
Additionally, from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m., the Warren County Hazardous Waste Day event on Lauren Avery Drive will accept prescription drugs.
"It is a no questions asked, anonymous way to drop off these medications and have them disposed of in a safe way [and] a legal way," Hall added. "The hope is that it makes our homes safer."