New Drug Disposal Sites in Tennessee

Poison Prevention Week is March 17-23, 2013

NASHVILLE“ Deaths from poisoning are on the rise in Tennessee and are a leading cause of injury death in the state. Drug overdose is often the cause of poisoning deaths among Tennesseans. With these grim facts in mind, the Tennessee Department of Health is partnering with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation to provide Tennesseans with increased opportunities to properly dispose of unused medication.

“In 2011, poisonings were the leading cause of injury death of Tennessee residents, with more people dying from poisoning than from motor vehicle accidents,” said TDH Commissioner John Dreyzehner, MD, MPH.”The number of Tennesseans who died from drug overdoses has almost tripled in the past ten years, and we know the excess of unused medication contributes to the epidemic of prescription drug abuse and misuse in our state. This partnership with TDEC will help eliminate these excess medications in a safe, effective and legal way.”

Full story: tn.gov newsroom