NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Officials are urging Tennesseans to dispose of unneeded or leftover prescription drugs at drop-off locations around the state on Saturday.
Doug Varney, the commissioner of the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, says the event that is part of National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day is aimed at fighting prescription drug abuse.
In Varney's words: "You might just save someone's life."
Varney says to remove personal information from original containers before taking them to police and sheriff's departments participating in the drop-off program.
More than 1,000 people die in the state every year from drug overdoses, and Varney said leftover perceptions for drugs like hydrocodone, oxycodone and morphine contribute to the problem.