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By J.R. TIDWELL / Editor

The 18th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day will be held Oct. 26.

Members of local law enforcement will be in the CVS parking lot in Clanton from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in order to collect unneeded or expired prescription medication, though expired and unwanted over-the-counter medicine will also be accepted.

According to the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Take Back Day website, the event, which is held in April and October each year, provides an opportunity for Americans to prevent drug addiction and overdose deaths.

“According to the 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 9.9 million Americans misused controlled prescription drugs,” says the DEA’s website. “The study shows that a majority of abused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet.”

Per the site, 4,969 departments in law enforcement manned 6,258 collection locations during the April event earlier this year.

The effort led to 937,443 pounds, or 468.72 tons, of unwanted medication being collected for proper disposal.

According to the office of Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, since the first Take Back event in Alabama in September of 2010, a total of about 78,655 pounds of unwanted, unused or expired drugs have been removed and disposed of safely.

“Prescription Drug Take Back is a valuable public service that protects our children, our homes and our environment,” Marshall said. “As a long-time prosecutor, I have too often witnessed the tragic results caused by the availability of dangerous controlled substances. When prescription drugs are left in our homes, children and teenagers may be poisoned or fall prey to drug abuse and addiction. Your old medications can be a lure to criminals looking for drugs to use or sell.  On Saturday, October 26, please take the opportunity to remove these hazards by bringing prescription drugs that are out-of-date or no longer needed to collection sites for safe and proper disposal.”

Those turning in unwanted medication will remain confidential, as no personal information will be taken.

Participants are encouraged to remove or black out any personal information that may be on prescription medication packaging before turning it in.

For more information on National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, visit takebackday.dea.gov.