Murfreesboro, MTSU communities respond with solid support for drug-vape take-back day

Leroy Carter, left, Middle Tennessee State University Campus Police master police officer, watches as Campus Pharmacy Pharmacist Tabby Ragland tosses an old medication in the one of several bins used during the fall drug and vape take-back event outside the Campus Recreation Center on Wednesday, Oct. 22, in Murfreesboro, Tenn. (MTSU photo by Andy Heidt)

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — A longtime friend and mentor to Middle Tennessee State University Campus Pharmacy Pharmacist Tabby Ragland kicked off the fall Drug-Vape Take-Back Day on Wednesday, Oct. 22, in a big way.

Retired Upjohn Pharmacist Terry Deason, of Murfreesboro, nearly filled one-half of a large bin when she “dropped off a whole bunch of things,” said Ragland, overseeing the event near the Campus Pharmacy drive-thru next to the Campus Recreation Center. “There had been a death in the family, and she brought three separate containers.”

Fourth-year Lipscomb University pharmacy student Sydney Campbell, of Athens, Alabama, adds items to the chart dropped off by people Wednesday, Oct. 22, during the fall drug and vape take-back event near the Middle Tennessee State University Campus Pharmacy drive-thru next to the Campus Recreation Center in Murfreesboro, Tenn. (MTSU photo by Andy Heidt)

People in the Murfreesboro and MTSU communities left nearly 46 total pounds of prescription drugs (23.7 pounds), over-the-counter medications (9.9 pounds), controlled substances (1.1 pounds) and 69 vapes (12.1 pounds) during the 5½- hour drive, Ragland said.

About 20 people dropped off items during the first hour, said Master Police Officer Leroy Carter, whose MTSU Police Department once again partnered with Campus Pharmacy for the collection of old, unused medications and other items, including an inhaler not used in years.

Tabby Ragland, director, MTSU Pharmacy — Tabby Ragland

“We had a great turnout before 8 (o’clock),” Ragland said. “Most of them were people on their way to work.”

One of them was Deason, “who has always been a mentor to me,” Ragland said.

Another was Lana Adkins, of Murfreesboro, who, along with daughter Ella Adkins, an MTSU junior chemistry major, brought “a couple of old prescriptions. We were cleaning out our medicine cabinets,” Ella Adkins said.

Lana Adkins said it was their first time to contribute to the drug take-back event.

Assisting with the drive were fourth-year Lipscomb University pharmacy student Sydney Campbell, of Athens, Alabama, and December 2024 MTSU psychology graduate Morgan Verdeck, a staff member with Murfreesboro-based Prevention Coalition for Success.

Campus Police Patrol Officer Travis Reed later joined Carter, assisting with the event.

This sign welcomes visitors to the fall drug and vape take-back event at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tenn., on Wednesday, Oct. 22, near the pharmacy drive-thru adjacent to Campus Recreation Center. The event is part of a national drive held twice each year and is an ongoing partnership between University Police and Campus Pharmacy. (MTSU photo by Andy Heidt)

MTSU’s event was held in coordination with the Drug Enforcement Administration’s national Drug Take-Back Day events that provided a convenient, confidential, and environmentally friendly way to get rid of unwanted and unused medications, prescriptions, over-the-counter meds, supplements, nicotine devices and veterinary medicines.

Ragland said they collected several vet meds.

While the national Drug Take Back Day is officially Saturday, Oct. 25, those who missed the MTSU event can still take advantage of a take-back event from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, at the Murfreesboro Medical Clinic locations at 1272 Garrison Drive and at 3325 Shores Road.

That event is sponsored by the Prevention Coalition for Success with help from the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Strategies and Tactics for Opioid Prevention team.

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