CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – On Saturday, October 27, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the Allies for Substance Abuse Prevention of Montgomery County and the 19th Judicial District Drug Task Force are partnering with the Drug Enforcement Administration for a prescription drug take back event.

This event gives the public the opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs.

Bring your pills for disposal to any of the three sites here in Clarksville:

• Sango Pharmacy, 2622 Madison St Suite A, Clarksville, TN 37043
• Harris Family Pharmacy, 1157 Fort Campbell Blvd, Clarksville, TN 37042
• Walgreens, 2975 Fort Campbell Blvd, Clarksville, TN 37042

(The DEA cannot accept liquids or needles or sharps, only pills or patches.) The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.

Last fall Americans turned in 474.5 tons (949,046 pounds) of prescription drugs at more than 5,842 sites operated by the DEA and almost 5,842 of its state and local law enforcement partners. Overall, in its 15 previous Take Back events, DEA and its partners have taken in more than 9.9 million pounds—more than 4,500 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.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health shows year after year that the majority of misused and abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including someone else’s medication being stolen 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.

For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs or about the October 28 Take Back Day event, go to www.DEATakeBack.com. For information about how you can get involved with the Allies for Substance Abuse Prevention of Montgomery County, visit the official Facebook page.