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National Prescription Drug Take Back Day

Bradley, Hamilton, McMinn, Polk and Rhea Counties

By Tara Waldrop Publisher/Editor Macaroni Kid Cleveland, Athens, Etowah October 22, 2020

National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day is Coming!  Just a few short years ago, I didn't "get" why this is such a big deal.  You may have been like me and wonder why in the world a day is dedicated to this and what could possibly be the problem.  Like so many of you drugs then touched my family personally and I began to educate myself about this issue that has taken our families, communities, states and our country by storm.  I realized I didn't want to unknowingly be a part of the problem because my home contained unused or expired medications in my home.  

"According to the 2016 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 6.2 million Americans misused controlled prescription drugs. The study shows that a majority of abused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet." (https://takebackday.dea.gov/).  

I attended an awareness meeting by a local organization- ATS The Bridge, and learned what a "Skittles Party" was all about.  According to the Urban Dictionary, a Skittles Party is “a party where teenagers get together with a lot of random pills usually taken from parents’ medicine cabinets. They put them all into a pile, and everyone takes a few. You don’t know what you’re taking.”.  I learned these parties are happening in our area and how dangerous they truly are.  Teens are mixing medications and they have no idea what they are taking nor the impact on their young bodies.  Here is a site you can learn more about the skittles parties.   I went home from that meeting and went through every cabinet or drawer I stored or ever had stored medication and bagged them up.  Another thing I thought- my home didn't contain any opiates among those expired or unused prescriptions.  Sadly, I was wrong.  I had forgotten about a surgery, a dental procedure, etc. where opiates were prescribed and filled but what was unused was never disposed of properly.    

I can not urge you enough - especially if you are a parent, grandparent or a person who loves a child or teen (especially if they are ever in your home) to participate in this Take-Back Day.  Go through your home and take advantage of this opportunity to dispose of these medications.  No questions are asked and your name will not be recorded.  If you are thinking you will just "flush" or throw away any unused or expired prescriptions you find in your home, please remember that is not the safest choice and not the best for the environment.  

Not able to drop off at the designated time or place?  No worries- there are Year Long Drug Disposal Sites.  Here is a link to find a year-long site near you!  

Check out a location for October 24th near you!  You can also find other locations HERE! 

DEA National Take-Back Day - Bradley County

DEA National Take-Back Day - Hamilton County

DEA National Take-Back Day - McMinn County

DEA National Take-Back Day - Polk County 

DEA National Take-Back Day - Rhea County

DEA National Take-Back Day Spring City 

DEA National Take-Back Day - Sweetwater