MADISON COUNTY – Keep them safe. Clean them out. Take them back.

Those requests from Partnership for a Drug-Free Community indicate that another time for Medication Take Back has returned.

On Oct. 23, three sites across Madison County will be available from 8 a.m. to noon for turning unneeded or expired prescriptions, along with over-the-counter medications.

In Madison, the take-back event will be staged at City Hall, 100 Hughes Road. Other locations will be Huntsville Public Safety Complex, 815 Wheeler Ave. and CVS pharmacy in Meridianville, 12275 U.S. 231.

“It’s time to clean out the medicine cabinet for the next community Medication Take-Back event set for Oct. 23,” Wendy Reeves said. Reeves is Executive Director of Partnership for a Drug-Free Community.

“This is an event in which anyone can participate to help make an impact on the opioid epidemic in Madison County. More than 27,000 pounds of outdated or unwanted prescription and over-the-counter medications have been collected at community take-back events since area law enforcement began the effort in September 2010,” Reeves said.

“If you have medications that you don’t need, then drive through and drop them off at any of the three locations,” she said.

Sponsors for the Medication Take Back include Partnership for a Drug-Free Community; Madison County Sheriff’s Office; City of Huntsville Police Department; City of Madison Police Department; DEA National Take Back; Alabama Extension Service – Alabama A&M and Auburn universities; Covanta; Operation Green Team; City of Madison; and City of Huntsville.

Prescription pill abuse is the fastest growing drug epidemic in the United States and can destroy young and old alike, according to Partnership sources. Partnership for a Drug-Free Community has collaborated with law enforcement and Huntsville and Madison civic leaders to inform the community about the dangers of prescription pill abuse.

The result of this work is the series of Medication Take Back events that have been conducted in recent years. Other strategies include town forums, monthly newsletters and health fairs.

“Yet, with all these strategies, prescription pill abuse continues to rise, especially with our youth who now buy medications online or who raid their parents’ and grandparents’ medicine cabinets,” Reeves said.

For more information, visit partnershipforadrug-freecommunity.org.