A number of National Prescription Drug Take Back Month and Drug Take Bay Day events for disposing of expired and unused medications will be taking place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday across the region, according to the Bay Rivers Telehealth Alliance.

BRTA members and area sheriff’s offices have joined the Take Back initiative to help with the proper disposal of unused or expired drugs with collection sites in the Middle Peninsula, Northern Neck and Eastern Shore.

Locally, a drug take-back event will be held at the Gloucester Walmart. Additionally, a drug take-back box is mounted in the front lobby of the Mathews County Sheriff’s Office, accessible to the public 24/7, and a year-round box is also available at the Middlesex County Sheriff’s Office in Saluda.

The event at the Walmart Pharmacy is sponsored by Riverside Health, in partnership with the Drug Enforcement Administration. Local law enforcement and the DEA will collect tablets, capsules, patches and other forms of prescription drugs outside the doors located near the pharmacy. Liquid products, such as cough syrup, should remain sealed in their original container. Syringes, sharps and illicit drugs will not be accepted.
Unused or expired prescription medications are a public safety issue, leading to accidental poisoning, overdose and abuse, a BRTA release stated. Unused prescription drugs thrown in the trash can be retrieved and abused or illegally sold, or if flushed, contaminate the water supply. Proper disposal of unused drugs saves lives and protects the environment.

Take-back programs are the best way to dispose of old drugs. However, if a program is not available, take the medications out of their bottle, mix them with something unappealing like used kitty litter or coffee grounds, seal them in a bag or disposable container, and throw that away.

For more information on prescription drug abuse, go to www.DEA.gov, www.GetSmartAboutDrugs.com and www.JustThinkTwice.com.