Whether it’s opioid pain medications or antidepressants, keeping unfinished prescription drugs in your home can have dire consequences including accidental ingestion by a child, theft by someone struggling with addiction, or even easy access for a teenager experimenting.

Many simply throw unused pill in the trash or flush them down the toilet but this can have adverse environmental effects. Most rural sewage treatment plants lack the ability to thoroughly remove pharmaceutical residue from water supplies.

That’s why it’s crucial to dispose of unfinished prescriptions responsibly.

On Saturday, October 24 the U.S. Department of Justice and Drug Enforcement Administration will host a National Prescription Drug Take Back Day to provide a safe, convenient, and private means of disposing of unneeded prescriptions.

Though there are no collection sites in Moore County, according to Metro Moore Sheriff Tyler Hatfield, there are several sites in surrounding counties including the Tullahoma Walmart in Coffee County and Lincoln County High School in Fayetteville. All collections take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For a complete lists of southern, middle Tennessee sites, click here. •

{The Lynchburg Times is the only independently owned and operated newspaper in Lynchburg. We cover Metro Moore County government, Jack Daniel’s Distillery, Nearest Green Distillery, Tims Ford State Park, Motlow State Community College, Moore County High School, Moore County Middle School, Lynchburg Elementary, Raider Sports, plus regional and state news.}