Prescription Drug Take Back

The Obion County Prevention Coalition is a partner with the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), the City of Union City Police Department, City Of South Fulton Police Department, Troy Police Department, and Baptist Memorial Hospital – Union City which participates in the DEA’s National Drug Take Back Program. The program provides a valuable outlet for the disposal of drugs, so residents do not have to keep unneeded or dangerous drugs in their homes, and our environment is not harmed by the introduction of drugs into the water systems.
Citizens may drop-off expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs to the Union City Police Department, South Fulton Police Department, and the Troy Police Department for destruction. This service is free and anonymous. The following drugs are accepted:
• All pills and powders.
• Liquid drugs are only accepted in sealed packaging.
• Sealed drugs and aids (i.e. diabetic supplies, meters, etc.)

The departments are unable at this time to accept syringes or other types of drug paraphernalia.
A Drug Take Back receptacle is located in each police department main lobby.
Many people are unaware that medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. According to the DEA, rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are increasing at alarming rates, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, many Americans do not know how to properly dispose of their unused medicine, often flushing them down the toilet or throwing them away-both potential safety and health hazards. Municipal water systems are not able to properly filter many medications, which sometimes leads to the presence of medications in tap water. Traces of prescription medications have also been detected in streams and other ground water sources.