A Practical Weekend Safety Task

Saturday, October 24, is National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, a nationwide opportunity to remove unused or expired medications from homes.

Unused drugs can present hazards to children, pets and other household members, so appropriate disposal can help reduce accidental exposure and misuse.

When and Where

Participating sites nationwide generally collect eligible medications from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

East Tennessee residents should use the Drug Enforcement Administration's official Take Back Day collection-site finder to confirm the nearest participating location before leaving home.

Not every pharmacy or police station participates in every event, so check the specific address and instructions rather than assuming a familiar location is included.

What Can Be Accepted?

Unused prescription pills and other qualifying medicines may be accepted, but restrictions apply to materials such as needles, syringes, sharps and liquids.

Verify rules with the selected collection site and remove or obscure personal information on containers when appropriate.

Other Disposal Options

Permanent medication-disposal locations and participating pharmacies provide options outside the national event.

Do not flush medicines unless official product-specific guidance instructs you to do so.

A Simple Reminder

Take Back Day is a good opportunity to inspect the medicine cabinet and set aside unneeded medications for safe disposal.

For readers unable to attend Saturday, checking local year-round collection options is a practical alternative.