For immediate release

April 11, 2023

Drug Take Back Day aims to rid area homes of unwanted medications

Drop off locations in Branson, Hollister, and Forsyth

Did you know that 53 percent of misused prescription drugs come from family and friends? The source of those prescription drugs is often the home medicine cabinet.

Saturday, April 22, local law enforcement and prevention coalitions will host four prescription drug take-back sites in Taney County during the DEA National Rx Drug Take Back Day.

The Taney County Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Team (ADAPT), the Stone County Community Health Coalition, and the Stone & Taney Counties Substance Use Initiative have partnered with local pharmacies to promote safe medication disposal as a part of the event. Coalition volunteers will be on site during the event handing out free medication safety information and medication destruction packets.

“Each Take Back event gives community members the opportunity to rid their homes of potentially dangerous expired and unused prescription medications,” says Marietta Hagan, CoxHealth project coordinator and member of the coalitions.

Drug Take Back Days are a great alternative to flushing medications, which is discouraged. Drug Take Back Days and the use of the permanent drug drop boxes in Stone and Taney counties protects area waterways from contamination from medications. City and county sewer systems and private septic systems are designed to treat biological waste and do not remove medications that are flushed down the toilet or dropped down a sink.

During the Take Back Day, medication drop off locations will be set up on April 22 from 10am to 2pm at the following locations:

·         BRANSON:  Walgreens Pharmacy – 210 State Highway 165

·         BRANSON: Rec Plex – 1500 Branson Hills Pkwy (East Parking Lot in front of Pavilion D)

·         HOLLISTER: Walgreens Pharmacy – 101 Industrial Park Drive

·         FORSYTH: Country Mart - 15720 US Highway 160

Over-the-counter medications, pet medications, and prescription medications are accepted in pill form, liquid form, patches, and creams.  No inhalers or needles/ syringes accepted.

ADAPT’s mission is to reduce and prevent the use of alcohol and other drugs by the youth of Taney County through evidence-based strategies. The mission of the Stone County Community Health Coalition is to promote a healthier, happier, and safer Stone County by focusing on the reduction of substance use and misuse (specifically in youth), mental health challenges, and cardiovascular disease. The Stone & Taney Counties Substance Use Initiative is a project of Cox Medical Center Branson and funded by a Skaggs Legacy Endowment grant.