Volunteers and Chattanooga police officers worked at the 1502 McCallie Avenue Drug Take-Back site during the spring event.
In partnership with several organizations, Tennessee American Water announces the fall 2014 Drug Take-Back event on Saturday, Sept. 27 from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. "The purpose of this event is to keep drugs out of the environment and off of our streets," officials said. Local residents are encouraged to simply drive up and drop off their unused, unwanted or expired medications – prescriptions or over-the-counter -- for proper disposal at one of the eight Hamilton County area locations:
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Blood Assurance - 705 East 4th St.
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East Chattanooga Improvement, Inc.
- 1502 McCallie Ave.
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Brainerd Walgreens Pharmacy - 3605 Brainerd Road
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Red Bank Walgreens Pharmacy - 4039 Dayton Blvd.
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East Ridge Walgreens Pharmacy - 5301 Ringgold Road
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East Brainerd Walgreens Pharmacy - 2289 Gunbarrel Road
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Harrison Walgreens Pharmacy - 4542 Hwy, 58
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Ooltewah Walgreens Pharmacy - 9307 County Hwy. 1145
During the spring Drug-Take Back event held in April, over 1000 pounds of medication were collected. Since that time, two new drop-off sites have been added. The sponsors of the program have expanded the number of locations to make it as convenient as possible for citizens.
The local Drug Take-Back program corresponds with a national initiative sponsored by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration. The event offers citizens a chance to safely and conveniently dispose of unwanted, unused prescription or over-the-counter drugs (for both pets and people) and avoid misuse or unintentional harm to families, pets and the environment.
"Having unused or expired medications in the home can lead to medication errors, accidental overdoses, or inappropriate use. In a well-intentioned effort to avoid these problems, many people flush unwanted medications down the toilet as a means of disposal. However, flushing medications means that traces of these drugs eventually end up back in the environment," officials stated.
“We are pleased to see how community participation in the Drug Take-Back events has grown in terms of pounds collected and citizens dropping off medications for proper disposal. Even the seemingly smallest efforts of an individual can have a much larger impact on protecting both our environment and our community, ” said Deron Allen, president of Tennessee American Water.
Along with Tennessee American Water, other sponsors for the Drug Take-Back are:
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East Chattanooga Improvement, Inc.
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Blood Assurance
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Chattanooga Police Department
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U.S. Department of Justice - Drug Enforcement Administration
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Hamilton County Coalition
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Walgreens Pharmacy
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Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department
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East Ridge Police Department
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Red Bank Police Department
UTC campus police officer stops by the Drug Take-Back collection Point at Blood Assurance in the spring.