Tennessee – The Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation are urging residents across the state to take part in the upcoming National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, April 26. The event will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. local time at locations throughout Tennessee.
Take Back Day provides an easy and secure way to dispose of expired or unneeded prescription and over-the-counter medications, helping reduce the risk of misuse and preventing environmental harm. During the last Take Back Day in April 2024, Tennesseans disposed of nearly 28,000 pounds of medication at 142 take-back sites—more than any neighboring state and placing Tennessee in the top ten nationwide.
Substance Use Prevention Coalitions are partnering with local law enforcement agencies to host take-back events across the state. In addition to safe disposal, participants will have access to educational resources about substance use prevention.
“Take Back Day is awesome just for its simplicity,” said TDMHSAS Commissioner Marie Williams, LCSW. “With these events, you can safely and securely get these substances out of your home—no questions asked. At the same time, you’re making your home and community safer by getting rid of potentially addictive medications.”
TDEC Commissioner David Salyers emphasized the environmental benefits of proper medication disposal. “When someone disposes pharmaceuticals in the proper way, it prevents them from entering our waterways. We encourage all Tennesseans to dispose of their unused drugs responsibly,” he said.
To find a Take Back Day event near you, visit the interactive map at [TNtogether.com](https://tntogether.com).