The Sumner County Sheriff's Office unveiled a new 24-hour kiosk for the Prescription Drug Take Back Program
Sgt. Keith Bean with the Sumner County Sheriff's office unveils the new kiosk for unwanted and expired drug dropoffs. Also pictured are Katie Brown (center) and Kelly Hennessy-Pierce (right) with the Sumner County Anti-Drug Coalition. / Sherry Mitchell/Sumner A.M.
The kiosk is accessible seven days a week for residents to drop off medications they wish to discard.
"This is for any type of unused, unwanted or expired medication," said Sgt. Keith Bean. "This is a way for people to have 24-hour access to get rid of their medicines they don't need."
Bean said the system is aimed at keeping the medications off the streets.
"You can throw them in the trash; however, if you don't make it undesirable for them, people will go into your trash to retrieve them," Bean said.
Flushing medications down the toilet can contaminate water and should be avoided, Bean said.
Bean said he will check the drug kiosk daily, and when enough is collected, the medications will be taken to the department's burn facility.
Over-the-counter medications can also be dropped off at the facility, with the exception of needles, liquids and aerosols.
Another rationale for getting rid of unwanted drugs is to protect children in the home.
"The statistics show that 44 percent of high school students think it is easy to get prescription drugs," said Katie Brown, director of the Sumner County Anti-Drug Coalition. "They get them in their parents' and grandparents' homes. They are easy to get because they (medicine cabinets) are unlocked."
The 24-hour kiosk is located inside the Sumner County Sheriff's Office at 117 W. Smith St. in Gallatin. For more information, visit sumnersheriff.com or call 452-2616.
The kiosk is accessible seven days a week for residents to drop off medications they wish to discard.
"This is for any type of unused, unwanted or expired medication," said Sgt. Keith Bean. "This is a way for people to have 24-hour access to get rid of their medicines they don't need."
Bean said the system is aimed at keeping the medications off the streets.
"You can throw them in the trash; however, if you don't make it undesirable for them, people will go into your trash to retrieve them," Bean said.
Flushing medications down the toilet can contaminate water and should be avoided, Bean said.
Bean said he will check the drug kiosk daily, and when enough is collected, the medications will be taken to the department's burn facility.
Over-the-counter medications can also be dropped off at the facility, with the exception of needles, liquids and aerosols.
Another rationale for getting rid of unwanted drugs is to protect children in the home.
"The statistics show that 44 percent of high school students think it is easy to get prescription drugs," said Katie Brown, director of the Sumner County Anti-Drug Coalition. "They get them in their parents' and grandparents' homes. They are easy to get because they (medicine cabinets) are unlocked."
The 24-hour kiosk is located inside the Sumner County Sheriff's Office at 117 W. Smith St. in Gallatin. For more information, visit sumnersheriff.com or call 452-2616.
Reporter Sherry Mitchell can be reached at 575-7117 or[email protected].
