Communities schedule drug take-back

A Medication Take-Back event will be held at Madison Police Department, 100 Hughes Road on Oct. 3 from 9 a.m. to noon. (RECORD PHOTO/GREGG PARKER)

MADISON COUNTY – The Partnership for a Drug-Free Community, law enforcement agencies and local businesses are planning upcoming Medication Take-Back events on Oct. 3.

This collaborative effort involves the City of Huntsville, Huntsville Police Department, Madison Police Department, Madison County Sheriff’s Department, Operation Green Team, Solid Waste Disposal Authority (SWDA), Covanta Huntsville and Alabama Cooperative Extension System.

These organizations invite the public to safely dispose of any expired or unwanted medications. Organizers will handle this program with complete confidentiality. Police officers or other individuals will not collect personal information.

Nationally, teenage prescription drug abuse is rapidly increasing, and family medicine cabinets can become a teenager’s best supplier, according to the Partnership for a Drug-Free Community.

The drug take-back also helps to protect the environment. Collection programs greatly reduce the chance of medicines entering a community’s water supply, the partnership stated.

On Oct. 3 from 9 a.m. to noon, residents can turn in drugs for disposal at three locations in Madison County:

* Madison Police Department, 100 Hughes Road.

* Jaycee Building, 2180 Airport Road, Huntsville.

* CVS Pharmacy, 12275 Hwy. 231, Meridianville.

Since the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) started the initiative, 5,659 take-back sites have been available in all 50 states and U.S. territories.

When Take-Back Initiative days are complete nationwide, the DEA and its state, local, and tribal law enforcement and community partners will have removed more than 1.5 million pounds or 774 tons of medication from circulation, according to 2014 estimates.

For more information, call the Partnership for a Drug-Free Community at 256-539-7339 or email to partner@hiwaay.net.