The Drug Enforcement Administration, in coordination with more than 4,400 law enforcement partners across the country, will host the 28th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day Saturday, April 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., offering communities across the United States a safe, convenient, and anonymous way to dispose of unneeded prescription medications.
With nearly 4,500 collection sites nationwide, Take Back Day aims to reduce the risk of prescription drug misuse by helping Americans safely remove expired, unwanted, or unused medications from their homes—medications that might otherwise be misused.
Kroger will once again be hosting drug take-back events across Tennessee.
National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is this Saturday, and Kroger is allowing people to safely dispose of unused or expired prescription medications.
Kroger’s healthcare division, Kroger Health, has partnered with the Cardinal Health Foundation and local law enforcement since 2018 to host the events across the country.
“At Cardinal Health, we are committed to creating a healthier future for all communities,” said Jessie Cannon, president of the Cardinal Health Foundation. “Supporting Kroger Health on National Prescription Drug Take Back Day allows us to provide a safe and accessible way for people to dispose of unwanted medications, while also educating the public about medication safety and reducing the risk of accidental misuse.”
The event’s goal is to offer safe ways to dispose of medications to save lives and keep communities cleaner.
“As many people use this time of year to participate in spring cleaning, this is the perfect opportunity to check their medicine cabinets for expired medications or medications they are no longer using,” said Brenda Barnes, Kroger’s Division Health and Wellness Leader. “Each year, Drug Take Back Day provides us with an opportunity to show our commitment to creating healthier communities by providing a space for anyone to safely dispose of these unused and or expired prescription or nonprescription drugs.”
The events are this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the following Kroger locations:
7615 US Highway 70, Bartlett
1203 Murfreesboro Rd, Franklin
845 Nashville Pike, Gallatin
2011 Nashville Pike, Gallatin
7735 Farmington Blvd, Germantown
237 E Main St, Hendersonville
1010 Glenbrook Way, Hendersonville
35 West University Pkwy, Jackson
220 Wears Valley Rd, Pigeon Forge
234 East Emory Rd, Powell
3444 Plaza Ave, Memphis
799 Truse Pkwy, Memphis
510 Highway 76, White House
Local law enforcement will be on site to accept unused or expired medication during this time. To learn more about the events, visit here. (Kroger take back story is courtesy of WVLT)
The Oak Ridge Police Department is partnering with the Scarboro Community to host a drug takeback event.
“Drop off items can be: tablets, capsules, ointments, creams, and liquids,” organizers said. “They will be accepted in their packaging, so no need to take them out of their packages or containers.”
Sharp needles nor syringes will be accepted.
“Unused or expired prescription medications are a public safety issue,” officials said. “Proper disposal of unneeded drugs saves lives and protects the environment and our community.”
It takes place during the Community Share Day on April 26, from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Scarboro Community Center.
It’s just one of many locations participating in Drug Takeback Day. (ORPD take back story is courtesy of WVLT)
For sixteen years, the DEA has worked with state and local partners to make safe medication disposal accessible to everyone, helping communities prevent prescription drug misuse and raise awareness of the dangers of keeping unneeded medications in the home.
“Disposing of unneeded, expired medications helps us protect the safety and health of our communities,” said DEA Acting Administrator Derek S. Maltz. “Families can minimize the risk of medications falling into the wrong hands by simply bringing unused medications to one of the 4,500 drop-off locations this Saturday. National Prescription Drug Take Bay Day would not be possible without our incredible local and state law enforcement partners and the community groups who work every year to make Take Back Day a success.”
“I encourage everyone to join us this weekend and participate in Take Back Day,” said Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott, head of DEA’s Louisville Division. “The small act of cleaning out your home medicine cabinet can have a big impact on the safety of our community by keeping addictive medications away from those who might abuse them.”
DEA and its partners will accept tablets, capsules, patches, and other solid forms of prescription drugs. Liquids, such as cough syrups, must remain tightly sealed in their original containers. Take Back Day locations will accept vaping devices and cartridges if the lithium batteries are removed. Syringes, sharps, and illicit substances will not be collected.
According to The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, opioids such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, codeine, and morphine are among the most frequently misused prescription pain medications.
In October 2024, DEA and its partners collected nearly 630,000 pounds of medications. Since the program’s inception in 2010, more than 19.2 million pounds of medications have been collected and safely destroyed.
Find a collection site near you for Saturday’s event by visiting www.DEATakeBack.com.
For those unable to participate on April 26, nearly 17,000 pharmacies, hospitals, clinics, and law enforcement locations offer year-round drug disposal options across the country to ensure Every Day is Take Back Day.
