Looking to shed some old meds or vaping devices cluttering up your space? Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) has you covered. On April 23, the university's Campus Pharmacy and University Police are hosting a bi-annual event specifically for this purpose. Set to take place from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Health, Wellness, and Recreation Center parking lot, located at 1848 Blue Raider Drive, you can drop off your unused prescriptions and vape paraphernalia easily by either driving up or strolling over.
This event isn't just a casual drop-off. It's part of a significant national initiative led by the Drug Enforcement Agency, aiming to provide a way to safely and responsibly dispose of medications, preventing pollution and the potential misuse of prescription drugs. Expired or unwanted medications, over-the-counter pills, supplements, and even vet medications will be accepted. MTSU News reports that people are encouraged to bag medications and keep them in their original containers, but do make sure to remove or obscure personal information from labels.
There are limits, though; don't bring your needles or EpiPens—they can't take sharps of any kind. This take-back is about those pills and electronic devices that might otherwise end up in a landfill, leaching chemicals into the water, or being found and misused by someone who shouldn't have them.
Sustainability and safety are at the forefront of this initiative. "First, by disposing of unused medication, we lower the risk of substance misuse among friends and family members who we share a living space with," Chipper Smith, campus Health Promotion coordinator, emphasized in a statement obtained by MTSUNews. He adds that this is not just a drug disposal program but also an environmental protection effort, ensuring that "the chemicals in the medication do not pollute our waterways across the county." Vaping devices, in particular, pose a risk, with the potential of nicotine contaminating the environment if thrown away carelessly. Last spring, MTSU collected a notable 60 devices during their event.
Be a part of the solution and keep your corners of the world a little safer and cleaner. MTSU is leading the charge in Tennessee, being one of a few campuses pushing for proper disposal methods. If you're in the area, take advantage of this chance to declutter responsibly and do your bit for the community's health and well-being. For more information on what you can bring and the details of the event, visit MTSUNews.
