News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Power of Putnam wants you to know that you do not have to wait for Drug Take-Back days to drop off your old medication.
Executive Director Bill Gibson said the organization has set up new safe drop-off locations for citizens to take their medication. Gibson said that the drop-off initiative is an effort to help combat the abuse of prescription drugs.
“The problem is people lose these medications, they’re diverted by people who misuse them,” Gibson said. “Sometimes it could be a family member, it might be a caregiver or somebody that comes in and out of the house.”
Gibson said that the drop boxes are available at all law enforcement offices within Putnam County. Gibson said that the drop boxes are “no questions asked” and are available 24/7.
“Controlled substances are in such demand by people struggling with addiction that it can become an opportunity for crimes such as burglary or robbery,” Gibson said. “So it’s just a good idea to get them out of your house as soon as possible.”
Gibson said that citizens who choose to utilize the dropboxes ensure that the medications are disposed of safely and immediately. Gibson said that the dropboxes are also available at several pharmacies around Putnam County. He said that the high number of boxes is to help meet the demand that other initiatives such as Drug Take Back Days cannot.
“Being that the Drug Take-Backs cannot be held as frequently as they might be needed, the idea came up to install the pure-medication boxes,” Gibson said. “That’s not just here in Putnam County that’s across all of Tennessee.”
Gibson said that counterfeit pills are also flooding the streets with dangerous ingredients such as fentanyl. He said that he urges citizens to not only drop off their medication but also not to take medication not directly given to them by a pharmacy.
