On Oct. 28, 2017, Tennesseans took action against the opioid epidemic by dropping off their unused or expired medications at take-back locations. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) recently released the report detailing how many pounds of pills were collected by each state in the U.S.

Here are the numbers you need to know:

• Tennesseans turned in 68,058 pounds of pills at more than 100 take-back locations across the state.
• This is the highest total ever collected during the previous 13 take-back events.
• In 2017, 99,236 pounds of pills were collected at take-back events across the state.
• Tennessee has been participating in the DEA’s take-back events since 2010, and more than 223,000 pounds of potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs have been collected.

“I don’t think there is any doubt that our year-round awareness efforts played a big role in the turnout of Take-Back Day in Tennessee,” said Kristina Clark, CLD project manager. “Our staff and partners have done a great job helping promote Take-Back Day and also increasing awareness of the need to safely dispose of unused pain medication.”

Did you miss the take-back event in October? Use our drop box finder to safely and securely dispose of your unused or expired pills at a permanent location near you. Keep prescriptions in your home out of the wrong hands by storing them in a lock box. Contact your local coalition to see if they offer free boxes, or purchase one from a local pharmacy.

—

Here are some photos from take-back events across the state:

Miss Tennessee 2017, Caty Davis, stopped by one of the take-back events in Carter County!

Volunteers counting medication in Dekalb County:

Volunteers in Johnson City on Oct. 28:

A Count It! Lock It! Drop It! booth was set up in Nashville:

Weakley County volunteers had lock boxes and brochures on hand at its take-back event in October:

The Fairview Police Department hosted a take-back event in Williamson County: