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On Saturday, April 22, 2023 – 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Hamblen County Substance Abuse Coalition will team up with the Hamblen County Sheriff’s Department and the National Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA to conductt the next Operation Medicine Bottle.

They will be collecting and safely disposing of unwanted drugs you might have at home, including opioids and other controlled substances.

The event will take place at College Square Mall, 2550 East Morris Boulevard in Morristown.

The Hamblen County Substance Abuse Coalition appeals to residents to take this opportunity to rid their homes of unwanted or outdated medications whether they are prescription drugs or over the counter medications. Operation Medicine Bottle has been a successful event in our community for the past twelve years by collecting and destroying millions of dollars of dangerous opiates, plus hundreds of pounds of other medications. With the National Center for Disease Control (CDC) recognizing an epidemic outbreak of prescription opiate medication addiction, not only here in east Tennessee but all across the United States, it is imperative that residents take advantage of every opportunity to help reduce the dispersion of these unused medications in our community. National and local studies confirm that 60% of young people that misuse prescription meds do not get them from a doctor’s prescription… they get the medications from the medicine cabinets of family and friends.

The DEA will dispose of all medications collected. No liquids, gels, powdered medications, hypodermic needles or syringes will be accepted at this event.

Anyone unable to bring medications during Operation Medicine Bottle may take them to the Hamblen County Sheriff’s Department located at 510 Allison Street in Morristown to utilize the permanent medication drop box. Their hours of operation are 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

For more information on this event or the Coalition’s prevention programs, please contact the HCSAC office at 423-748-7494.