Campus officials and volunteers collected nearly 130 pounds of unused, expired and unwanted prescriptions and over-the-counter medications April 26 during the semiannual MTSU Drug Take-Back Day.

An effort led by MTSU Public Safety and Campus Pharmacy, the collection was held for five hours near the Campus Pharmacy drive-thru. Officials and volunteers, including alumnus Taylor Black, collected the unused or expired medication for safe disposal. Black is a fourth-year Lipscomb University pharmacy student who will graduate from the Nashville university in May.

Murfreesboro resident Melinda Mallet hands a bag of unwanted prescription and over-the-counter medications to Lisa Schrader, MTSU health promotion director, April 26 during MTSU’s Drug Take-Back Day, as MTSU alumnus Taylor Black, a fourth-year Lipscomb University pharmacy student, and pharmacist Tabby Ragland confer. (MTSU photos by J. Intintoli)

By event’s end, a record 128.4 pounds of unwanted medications had been collected.

“We were extremely pleased with the turnout,” campus pharmacist Tabby Ragland said.

Of special note, Ragland said the public and campus community contributed expired pet medications in addition to over-the-counter and controlled drugs.

For anyone unable to make it to campus during the Tuesday event, you may also drop off medications at the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Department, located at 940 New Salem Highway, at any time.

This event is part of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s overall efforts to remove excess drugs from communities where they could be abused or misused, diverted into the wrong hands or disposed of in environmentally unsafe ways.

The National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day aims to provide a safe, secure, and environmentally responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse and trafficking of medications.

Last September, more than 100 pounds of medicine was collected at this MTSU collection event.  In total, nearly 400 tons of medicines have been disposed of nationally since take-back collections were initiated in 2010.

Campus officials said they anticipate another drug take-back event during the fall semester.

— Randy Weiler (Randy.Weiler@mtsu.edu)

MTSU alumnus Taylor Black, left, a fourth-year Lipscomb University pharmacy student awaiting graduation in May, campus pharmacist Tabby Ragland and Lisa Schrader, MTSU health promotion director, record prescription medications brought in April 26 during the MTSU Drug Take-Back Day near the pharmacy drive-thru.