Prescription Drug Take Back Day is Saturday, Oct. 27 and on that day area citizens can take their expired or unused medications to Cumberland Pharmacy for safe and secure disposal from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The local Take-Back initiative stems from a partnership between Cumberland Pharmacy’s Kim Wright, Cumberland Sheriff Darrell Hodges and Cumberland Commonwealth’s Attorney Pat Scales.

Cumberland Pharmacy is located on Highway 60 at 1756 Anderson Highway about two miles west of the courthouse area. “You’ll be able to drive into the parking lot, drop off your old medications and circle out without even getting out of your car,” said Wright, who is the pharmacy director.

“The proper disposal of old prescriptions keeps those medications out of the hands of children, ensures that improperly disposed of medications do not contaminate our water supply and combats substance abuse,” she said. “We’ve also worked closely with Cardinal Health to help implement this drug Take-Back program.”

Hodges said his department is proud to partner with Cumberland Pharmacy and Commonwealth’s Attorney Pat Scales to promote drug Take-Back Day. “We’ve joined forces to encourage the public to properly dispose of medications such as opioids and other pills, so that these medications don’t fall into the wrong hands,” he said.

According to Commonwealth’s Attorney Scales, “the opioid and drug crisis is a significant problem, so the more that we as citizens can do to dispose of unused medications and opioids, the better and safer our communities will likely become.”

For citizens who cannot make it to the pharmacy before 2 p.m. Saturday, the Cumberland Sheriff’s Office also has a secure medication-disposal box located in its front lobby that is also available for use at other times.