April 23, 2024

JCPD to participate in National Prescription Drug Take Back Day

On Saturday, April 27, your Johnson City Police Department (JCPD) will team up with Insight Alliance and East Tennessee State University’s Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy for National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. JCPD and partner organizations will collect tablets, capsules, patches and other forms of prescription drugs for disposal. The initiative, organized by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), aims to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible way for the community to get unused medications out of their homes.

JCPD Chief Billy Church emphasizes the importance of proper medication disposal: “Unused prescription drugs present a serious risk of misuse and abuse, which can lead to devastating consequences for individuals and families. By participating in National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, your JCPD is taking proactive steps to remove these potentially harmful substances from our communities and promote public safety.”

Now is the time to go through all your medications and collect what is expired, not used, or not needed and bring them to National Drug Take Back Day. The event will take place at the Municipal and Safety Building parking lot, 601 E. Main St., from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Participants can drive up to the collection site and drop off medications without leaving their vehicle.

Collection sites will not accept syringes, needles or illegal drugs. Liquid products, such as cough syrup, should remain sealed in their original container with the cap tightly sealed to prevent leakage.

If you cannot make it to National Drug Take Back Day, your JCPD provides year-round prescription drug disposal services in the lobby of JCPD Headquarters, 601 E. Main St., Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.