UTM is the first university in Tennessee to install a drug take back box located at the Department of Public Safety in Crisp Hall. The box was donated by the Weakley County Prevention Coalition and allows students, faculty, staff and community members to safely dispose of expired or unnecessary medication.
The take back box accepts all prescription and over-the-counter drugs, medicated ointments, lotions or drops, pet medications, liquid medications in sealed containers, inhalers and pills in any packaging, including glass, plastic containers, ziplock bags or foil.
However, certain items are not acceptable to dispose of in the container such as illegal drugs and narcotics, needles or syringes with needles, blood sugar equipment, thermometers, IV bags, bloody or infectious waste or personal care products. The box features a list of acceptable and unacceptable items which can be disposed of in the bin.
The drug take back box, which was installed on Monday, was a request from the students to help face the growing opioid addiction in the country. According to police Chief Scott Robbins, the box has been used everyday since its installation and he is hopeful that students will continue to safely dispose of unwanted drugs in the box. Robbins explained the box also helps keep students safe from being targeted for theft by having excess medication with them. It is also a safe way for students to ensure others aren’t taking the medicine undiagnosed and abusing substances.
“We do have an opioid problem in this country and we are not immune to it,” said Robbins. “Our campus community realizes if this can help a little toward the solution to a huge problem, then we are going to do it.”
The opioid crisis in Tennessee claims the lives of three citizens everyday. Gov. Bill Haslam has submitted a $30 million proposal titled “TN Together” to help combat the epidemic as more than 1600 Tennesseans died in 2016 due to opioids. UT President Joe DiPietro promised in his third annual State of the University address to help put an end to the crisis in Tennessee. The boxes are one way to help resolve the crisis.
The UTM box is now the fifth to be installed in Weakley County as the Coalition is striving to combat opioid usage in Tennessee. For more information on where to find a drug take back box, visit tdeconline.tn.gov/rxtakeback.
UTM is hosting a Drug Take Back day April 27 at the Department of Safety on campus.
