Year-Round Drug Take Back Program

The drug take back unit is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to the public at the Athens Police Department. APD and the City of Athens held a press event on Feb. 28, 2019, to announce the availability of properly disposing of unused or outdated prescription and over-the-counter medications, including pet medications. The goal is to keep these medications out of our landfills and water supply. Chief Floyd Johnson the first collection APD properly disposed of weighed 50 pounds. Chief Johnson said the department sees the public using the unit almost daily. It is used so much, that on average, the department properly disposes of the medication left in the unit on a bi-weekly basis. At the press announcement, Rep. Danny Crawford of Athens brought a bag of medications he had been holding on to waiting for APD to host its once-a-year drug take back event. Like Rep. Crawford, the public now can dispose of their unused medications anytime, which also decreases the chances of children and pets getting into medicines stored for what used to be a once-a-year program. As part of the program and to advertise the service to the community, the City of Athens printed informational flyers, in particular for our city and county senior centers and Keep Athens-Limestone Beautiful.