Updated April 17, 2019

Maury Regional Medical Center  will give the public an opportunity on Saturday, April 27, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.,  to prevent pill abuse and theft by cleaning their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs.

During the take back, community members can bring their unused drugs for disposal to the Maury Regional Medical Office Building at 1222 Trotwood Avenue in Columbia. The service is free and anonymous with no questions asked.  

This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health shows year after year that the majority of misused and abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including someone else’s medication being stolen from the home medicine cabinet.

In addition, Giles County residents  are  advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines by  flushing pills down the toilet or throwing in the trash  pose potential safety and health hazards.