Drug take back day returns to Sparta

That half-empty prescription bottle tucked in the back of a cabinet may be easy to forget, but Sparta Drug Center is giving local residents a simple way to clear out medications they no longer need and make sure they are disposed of safely.

Sparta Drug Center will join the White County Health Department and White County Prevention & Recovery Coalition for National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, Oct. 24, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Residents can bring old, leftover, or unneeded medications, including both prescription and over-the-counter drugs, to the pharmacy for disposal in its MedSafe Disposal Box.

Organizers ask that medications remain in their original containers rather than being placed loose into plastic bags. Keeping them in a container that identifies the medication makes transportation safer and helps avoid confusion before they are placed into the disposal box.

Clearing those medications out of the home is about more than freeing up space in the medicine cabinet. Prescriptions that are no longer being used can still be accidentally taken by children, confused with another medication, or accessed by someone they were never prescribed for. Even familiar medications can become dangerous when taken incorrectly, making proper storage and disposal an important part of keeping them out of the wrong hands.

Along with providing a safe place to dispose of medications, the event will offer drug information, health resources, and other tools families can use at home. The White County Prevention & Recovery Coalition will have medication lockboxes available, and children’s giveaways will also be offered during the event.

Residents who cannot attend Saturday’s event still have another option. Sparta Drug Center’s MedSafe Disposal Box is available year-round, giving the community a secure place to dispose of unwanted medications when they are no longer needed.

National Prescription Drug Take Back Day will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, at Sparta Drug Center, 425 N. Spring St. in Sparta. The White County Health Department and White County Prevention & Recovery Coalition will also be on-site during the event.