Drug prevention group to hold RX disposal event
Oct. 24—An area drug abuse prevention group is hosting a prescription drug take-back event at various locations in Calhoun and Cleburne counties Saturday.
Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Agency for Substance Abuse Prevention is manning four locations in honor of "National Prescription Drug Take Back Day," to give folks a safe and easy place to dispose of prescription medication.
ASAP prevention specialist Maiya Selase said the group will be raffling off a $250 gift card. All one has to do to participate in the raffle is bring their expired or unused prescription medication to one of the four locations on the day of the event, and they will receive a raffle ticket to fill out.
A winner will be chosen Monday, Oct. 30.
Selase said it's important to dispose of these medications properly to ensure they don't fall into the wrong hands.
"It provides the community with a safe environment to dispose of their unused or expired medication. Oftentimes we have older population living in the home; they have expired medication. We have grandparents who have grandkids who are looking in the cabinets or things like that. So we really want to provide an event that creates that environment for consumers who can just come up and get rid of their medication," Selase said.
"Of course we don't want our consumers to flush it down the toilet because it can drain into the sewer system. But the main goal is to provide that safe environment for people," Selase continued.
She said there is typically a law enforcement agent there for safe disposal. However, ASAP also wants to break some of the fear that might be surrounding the disposal of these medications. The law enforcement officer is not there to get anyone in trouble for having these medications.
Those who cannot make the Saturday event will find a drug take-back box permanently posted inside the Anniston Police Department.
Locations:
Walgreens Pharmacy — 800 Quintard Avenue, Anniston
Walgreens Pharmacy — 311 Pelham Road South, Jacksonville
CVS Pharmacy — 825 South Quintard Avenue, Oxford
Cleburne Pharmacy — 875 Ross Street, Heflin
Staff Writer Ashley Morrison: 256-236-1551. On Twitter: @AshMorrison1105.
