2018 Medication Take-Back Event Was a Success!
Access to Mental Health treatment along with obesity and access to healthcare were identified as goals following the Chatham County Needs Assessment completed in 2014. The needs assessment is a year-long process that develops goals for the next three years. Within the goal of Access to Mental Health, working collectively to prevent substance abuse is one of the major focuses, which is what the Chatham Hospital Take-Back Event aimed to do. This event was held on April 28 of this year.
The take-back team consisted of Chatham Hospital staff including pharmacy, risk management, safety officer, social worker, and president, Bob Enders. The Chatham County Sheriff’s Department partnered with Chatham Hospital to offer a mobile take-back location. "Our agency is proud to partner with other local organizations to better serve our community," said Chatham County Sheriff's Office Lieutenant Phillip Richard. "Our partnership with Chatham Hospital resulted in the collection of 42.1 pounds of medication in just a few hours. This is one of the largest and most successful prescription take-back events we have seen in the county in a long time. Thank you to all who participated in this team effort!" Several community members stated that they were bringing their deceased relative’s medications for safe disposal. Other patrons stated that they never knew what to do with their unused medications and were thankful for this opportunity to safely dispose of them.
Based on the 2016 Alcohol and Other Drugs Survey for Chatham county adolescents, 32.5% of adolescents misusing medications take them from a friend or family member, and 27.4% are given the prescriptions from family members. Youth are 7.1 times more likely to use prescription medications if they are easy to access and 2.4 times more likely to use if they are in the home. There are many other factors that increase the chance of youth prescription medication use and they are additive in nature. Local prescription take-back opportunities are instrumental in decreasing misuse of prescription drugs.
Year-round medication disposal opportunities are at the following locations. No sharps, needles or liquid is accepted at these locations.
Pittsboro Police Department
635 East Street
Pittsboro, NC 27312
(919) 542-3200
Siler City Police Department
312 North Chatham Avenue
Siler City, NC 27344
(919) 742-5626
Chatham County Detention Center
627 Renaissance Drive
Pittsboro, NC 27132
(919) 545-7802
