DEA 24th Annual Drug Take Back Day upcoming

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will be having its 24th nationwide Take Back Day this Saturday.

It is designed to bring greater awareness to drug misuse.

Organizers are partnering with the DEA, local law enforcement and the city of Chattanooga.

Drug Take Back Day also encourages people, letting them know that healing from addiction is possible.

The DEA’s website said that on this day, people should “remove unneeded medications from their homes as a measure of preventing medication misuse and opioid addiction from ever starting.”

You can find a local collection site on their website.

Calandra Smith, Assistant Director of the Hamilton County Coalition said, “Addition is a huge disease we are seeing a lot of people suffer from and we want to be able to provide resources about substance use disorder, and how recovery is possible.”

How to properly dispose of drugs can also be found online at TNtogether.com/takebackday.

The local event will take place Saturday, April 22, at the Signal Mountain Police Department from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.