AG Slatery Encourages Tennesseans to Dispose of Unused Prescription Opioids on Take Back Day

Nashville- Attorney General Herbert H. Slatery III is encouraging Tennesseans to take their unused prescription drugs, including opioids, and dispose of them at collection sites around the state this Saturday, October 26th, during National Prescription Drug Take Back Day in conjunction with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

Expired, unused, and unwanted prescription medications are vulnerable to misuse, theft, or abuse by family members and others, including children and teens. Disposing of these drugs is free and anonymous. Tennesseans can find a nearby collection site through the Office of the Attorney General’s prescription opioid abuse awareness website, https://doseofreality.tn.gov/.

“This Office, which is taking legal action on several fronts to hold manufacturers and distributors accountable for flooding this state with prescription opioid medication, also wants to encourage the safe disposal of these drugs to help break the cycle of addiction and overdose deaths in Tennessee,” said General Slatery.

Rates of prescription drug abuse in the United States continue to be alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Many prescription drug abusers get their drugs free from friends and family. Take Back Day is an important opportunity to guard against theft and abuse.

Click here for drug takeback locations in Tennessee: https://doseofreality.tn.gov/drug-takeback/

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Press Release #19-45: AG Slatery Encourages Tennesseans to Dispose of Unused Prescription Opioids on Take Back Day