Poisoning continues to be the leading cause of injury death in Tennessee. In 2017, 60% of the exposure calls to Tennessee Poison Center were for pharmaceuticals. Too often, unused prescription drugs find their way into the wrong hands. Pharmaceutical drugs can be just as dangerous as street drugs when taken without a prescription or a doctor’s supervision. That can be dangerous and often tragic.
Unused or expired prescription medications are a public safety issue, leading to potential accidental poisoning, misuse, and overdose. Proper disposal of unused drugs saves lives and protects the environment. That's why thousands of residents from across the country clean out their medicine cabinets and turn in - safely and anonymously - a record amount of prescription drugs during National Drug Take Back Days.
In April there are several Drug Take Back Days throughout Tennessee. In Nashville, there will be a Drug Take Back event on April 14 at Hillsboro High School. Attached is the flyer for the event sponsored by Lipscomb University College of Pharmacy and Belmont University College of Pharmacy.
For other Take Back Days, please visit this website: https://takebackday.dea.gov/ .
This Question was prepared by: Josephine Darwin, Director of Community Outreach
I am interested in any questions you would like answered in the Question of the Week. Please email me with any suggestion at donna.seger@vanderbilt.edu
Donna Seger, MD
Medical Director
Tennessee Poison Center
Poison Help Hotline: 1-800-222-1222
The Question of the Week is available on our website: www.tnpoisoncenter.org